The Louvre Abu Dhabi is getting Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” which sold last month at a Christie’s auction for $450 million (U.S.), the most ever paid for a work of art. Christie’s said the artwork will be going to the museum, but declined to say whether the Louvre Abu Dhabi bought the painting. The Louvre Abu Dhabi said in a tweet Wednesday: “Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi is coming to #LouvreAbuDhabi.”Ever since the sale at Christie’s, the identity of the buyer has been the most sought-after secret in the art world and beyond. Read more: Da Vinci painting sells for $450 million, shattering auction recordsThe Louvre Abu Dhabi — a franchise of the Paris original — is a symbol of the oil-rich sheikhdom’s drive to boost its “soft power” credentials. To differentiate itself from neighbouring Dubai, Abu Dhabi is targeting affluent tourists looking for culture and art and it has also built hotels, theme parks and malls.

Source: thestar December 06, 2017 23:48 UTC