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The average person may not be able to identify all of the artists on display at the local art museum, but most of us know at least a little bit about the great artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. So when a couple of collectors discovered what could be a long-lost painting by da Vinci, the world took notice—and the story is explored in the documentary The Lost Leonardo.
The Lost Leonardo follows the journey of the Salvator Mundi, starting from its discovery by art dealer Alexander Parish, who purchased the piece with Robert Simon for just over $1,000. But when it was sent away to art restorer Dianne Modestini, what she uncovered beneath layers of attempted restorations suggested that it was painted not by a student of da Vinci but by the master himself. The painting became the subject of much debate and discussion as museums, experts, and critics fought over whether it could possibly be the real thing—or whether it was just a very good copy.
Whether you believe that the Salvator Mundi is a real da Vinci or a copy—or even if you just don’t care—its story is definitely a fascinating one. One day, it just came out of nowhere and popped up on an auction in the States, and it started stirring up all kinds of controversy in the art world. The painting’s journey over the last five centuries is a mystery, but its journey over the last decade or so is like something out of a big-screen caper.
The film is definitely full of viewpoints: those who are convinced that it’s authentic, those who find it impossible to believe that it’s a true da Vinci, and those who are just happy to cash in on whatever everyone else believes. And as more people get involved, as the price continues to rise, and as the opinions become more outspoken, the story of this painting grows into something far beyond just the art world. It becomes more about money—and even politics, too—until, eventually, it feels like a big, crazy, da Vinci circus, with a cast of characters featuring everyone from critics to crime bosses to Hollywood celebrities to royalty. And it definitely makes for an unbelievable—and outrageous—documentary.
You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy the stranger-than-fiction story of this mysterious painting. It certainly tells a fascinating story—just don’t expect to get any solid answers in the end.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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