Secrets, controversy, and lots of money are wonderful ingredients for an exciting television production. This was the case in 2021, when Danish director Andreas Koefoed filmed The Lost Leonardo, which shed light on the opaque story, which began in 1958, surrounding the (alleged) Leonardo da Vinci painting Salvator Mundi and gave many experts who doubt the authenticity of the work a chance to have their say.
See also: Leonardo da Vinci: Universal Genius
The screenwriting and directing duo John Requa and Glenn Ficarra have now begun working on a TV series based on this documentary. Multiple award-winning actress Julianne Moore, with whom Requa and Ficarra previously worked together on the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love, has been cast in the lead role. Moore will also act as executive producer on the new project.
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Moore will play the restorer Dianne Modestini, who plays a central role in the recent history of Salvator Mundi. The story of the series begins in 2005, when the American art dealers Alexander Parrish and Robert Simon purchased the work, attributed as a "painting after Leonardo da Vinci" and in poor condition, for just $1,500 at an auction in New Orleans. They entrusted its restoration to Dianne Modestini, who became the greatest advocate of the painting's authenticity as an autograph work by Leonardo da Vinci, despite many critical voices casting doubt on its provenance.
See also: Has Salvator Mundi Been Found?
In 2013, Simon and Parrish sold the painting, now identified as the only Leonardo in private hands, for $80 million to the dealer Yves Bouvier, who in turn sold it on to the Russian collector Dmitry Rybolovlev for $127.5 million in the same year. The sale caused a good amount of controversy, as Bouvier is said to have acted not as the owner but merely as an intermediary in order to raise substantial funds. The legal dispute, which also included other sales by Bouvier to Rybolovlev, was settled at the end of last year.
See also: The 12 Most Expensive Paintings Ever Auctioned
As is well known, Salvator Mundi became the most expensive painting in auction history when it sold at Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York on December 15, 2017. Pre-sale estimates were for $100 million, but the final price realised was $450.3 million (including buyer's premium). While the buyer was initially unknown, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now believed to have bought the painting. Salvator Mundi has not been seen in public since the auction, which has only fuelled speculation about a possible misattribution to Leonardo da Vinci.
Produced jointly by Studiocanal, Picture Company, Entertainment 360 and Zaftig Films, the series promises plenty of excitement and proves once again that real life still delivers the best stories.
