Scene
The painting depicts Christ as the Savior of the World in Renaissance dress. He gazes directly at the viewer with a composed yet intense expression. The composition employs a triangular arrangement formed by the hands and head.
Salvator Mundi
Figures
Christ is shown as a central figure with wavy auburn hair. His right hand is raised with two fingers extended in a blessing gesture. He is considered one of only approximately 15 known surviving paintings by Leonardo da Vinci.
Symbolism
The crystal orb in his left hand represents the crystalline sphere of the heavens, symbolizing Christ's mastery over the cosmos. Renaissance clothing suggests his timeless presence across all historical periods.
Craft
Leonardo used sfumato to create soft, blended transitions between tones. This technique is seen in the detailed rendering of Christ's hair and the realistic blessing hand.
Impact
The painting sold at auction in 2017 for $450 million, a world record price for a painting. It is an exceptionally rare work in art history.
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