Leonardo da Vinci painting breaks auction record

Salvator Mundi [Photo provided to China Daily]

Salvator Mundi, an oil painting by art master Leonardo da Vinci, was sold for $450.3 million at Christie's in New York on Wednesday, becoming the most expensive art piece sold at auction in the world. The piece was previously estimated at around $100 million.

The painting, an ethereal portrait of Jesus Christ, dates back to about 1500, nearly the same time period when da Vinci created the masterpiece Mona Lisa.

Salvator Mundi is a regular subject in iconography, in which Christ in vivid blue and crimson robes raises his right hand with his second and middle fingers crossed and holds in his left hand a crystal sphere which symbolizes earth.

The painting was once in the collection of King Charles I (1600-49). Then it was transferred several times. Its previous records of collection were lost. After being repainted, it was credited to Luini, a follower of da Vinci.

It is believed that fewer than 20 of da Vinci's paintings are known to exist.