"Salvator Mundi" in Abu Dhabi, the buyer is a Saudi Prince
Rome - The Louvre museum at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will showcase 'Salvator Mundi', the last privately-owned work by Leonardo Da Vinci, auctioned off by Christie's for the record sum of 450 million dollars. "'Salvator Mundi' is coming to #LouvreAbuDhabi", the museum announced on Twitter in Arabic, English and French, posting a picture of the painting. Meanwhile, the spotlight is on the buyer of the Florentine Master's work: he is a Saudi Prince, little known in the world of great art collectors, revealed the New York Times after accessing the sales papers. Prince Bader bin Abdullah Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, is a friend of the new heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammed Bin Salman, the powerful 32 year old prince responsible for anti-corruption purges.
The Times adds that Bader is a 'little known' prince who belongs to a 'side branch' of the Saudi royal family, with no past in the domain of art collections. As is often the case, Christie's had not revealed the identity of the buyer on the day of the sensational auction. The Saudi Prince did not confirm the news published on the American paper, though it was issued at the same time as the announcement that "Salvator Mundi" would soon be exhibited at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. According to the New York daily, the envoys of the wealthy prince had not revealed their interest in the painting until the day before the auction, which took place in New York on 15 November. In order to take part in the auction, the prince had to deposit 100 million dollars, and Christie's had also asked for background information, such as the source of the money. Prince Bader, who has interests in many companies in his country, is close to the heir of the Saudi throne, with whom he attended the University of Riad.