Leonardo's Salvator Mundi: Scholarship, Science and Skulduggery

00:00 // Introduction: The Mystery of Salvator Mundi
01:55 // Leonardo and the Culture of Mythmaking
03:35 // Copies and Variants of Salvator Mundi
06:45 // Wenceslaus Hollar’s Engraving and Early Evidence
09:00 // Discovery at Auction and Early Provenance
13:30 // Restoration and Scientific Analysis
16:30 // Signs of Leonardo’s Hand and Alterations
20:15 // Entry into the National Gallery
23:00 // Market Intrigue and Art World Drama
26:45 // Iconography of the Salvator Mundi
29:35 // Leonardo’s Unique Visual Techniques
33:15 // The Rock Crystal Orb and Cosmological Symbolism
36:25 // Leonardo’s Optical Theories and the Science of Vision
41:00 // Theology, Ambiguity, and the Ineffable Christ
44:30 // Conclusion: Science, Art, and the Unified Vision
45:40 // Final Plea: Where Is the Painting Now?

This lecture looks at the discovery, conservation and scientific examination of Leonardo's Salvator Mundi, the world's most costly picture.

A lecture by Martin Kemp, University of Oxford 1 May 2019

The newly discovered Salvator by Leonardo, the world’s most costly picture, is one of his most notable creations, in which he used his ‘science of art’ to transform a stock subject into a profound expression of the ineffability of the divine.

We will look at the remarkable story of its discovery, its conservation and scientific examination, the research into how it works as an image and its provenance. We will also look at the scandalous events of its ownership and how it came to be where it is now.

[juliekemp]

It's so satisfying, in the best way, to listen to a true scholar. Mr Kemp draws in so much - high astronomy, depth psychology, profound theology and reforming history, especially of the West. Thank you Sir.

[toobalkain]

This guy makes a reasonably convincing case for Salvator Mundi being a Leonardo but opposing arguments are even more persuasive, especially concerning amateurism technical mistakes seen in no other Leonardo's work, as a perfectionist he wasn't prone to drawing crooked noses or asymmetrical eyes, or mis-framing the entire painting so there's not enough room left on either side.

[mikeliteras]

Two points, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong:
1 With any portrait painted 'full face', with eyes directed straight out, will always appear as if the eyes follow the viewer if he moves around. Furthermore, any portrait painted 'full face' {or otherwise) if the eyes are askance, you will never find a position where they appear to look at you.
2 The properties of light passing through a crystal globe are unusual and unmistakable. That is to say, any part of a hand in contact with the bottom or top surface would only show as a thin distorted strip of colour around that inside edge of the globe. Any object or surface behind or above, and not in contact with the surface, will appear inverted both vertically and horizontally. This would include any fingers not touching the surface. This is NOT what is represented in the Salvator Mundi. Surely someone noted for his keen observation, knowledge of optics and painstaking approach to compositional accuracy Leonardo would NOT have missed that.
Convince yourself with an image Google search of 'reflections through a crystal globe' and/or 'reflections through a crystal orb'.

[deborahponzioitaly]

Grande Martin Kemp!! Listening to him is always very special

[Braham_the_Terror]

So glad I stumbled upon this lecture, incredible stuff!

[yogeshkorde]

Martin Kemp ...always unfolds new layers when it comes to Leonardo da Vinci..

[vuphanq]

35:34 you can't deny the quality of the fingers in Leonardo's painting. So simple and yet so sophisticated. It's like they have soul.

[leefrankel]

This is a wonderfully informative and learned lecture.

[luberies]

What a beautiful lecture! Mr. Martin Kemp would be one of Leonardo´s best intellectual friends!.
I think, one must see Leonardo´s Salvator Mundi not only with the physical eyes, but with the whole heart. to appreciate it´s greatness! .
This lecture is a trassure!

[adama.]

Fantastic. I enjoyed this lecture very much. Fascinating

[leonhen]

What a wonderful lecture! Very insightful

[krystynabarakan]

As fine art restorer and good copiest I can say that the most essential characteristic in Leonardo all paintings is the way he painted his figures EYES. This only Leonardo's "foggy" eyes are very difficoult to copy.It is like he placed his soul in them.Impossible to make good copy or forge !.It took me many years to find what it is.

[rich]

Good Lecture. really interesting. Martin Kemp looks like Professor Dent from Dr No. Anthony Dawson !!

[grec.]

Wow. Sr. Thank you for this wonderful insight into the mind of the genius himself.

[thysvanzyl]

Beautiful Lecture. Martin Kemp also looks, speaks and sounds like Professor Proton from Big Bang Theory - Bob Newhart !

[brettwinters]

explain everything....in an understandable way thank you

[bigbulk]

Disclaimer at the beginning that he could only vett the style of the painting not it's provenance speaks volumes about its authenticity.

[thealchemistdaughter]

Just wonderful Thankyou so much for up loading, much appreciated.. @32.00 I see the outlines for Celtic knots rather than Islamic geometry.. I have used exactly this Celtic pattern as a frame for some of my watercolours.. Anyone else see this?

[FrancisMcallister-L]

Maybe was not the best move to go into a celebrity auction but rather given to an Italian Museo so work can be done to authenticate beyond doubt now copies are out there and now to me it’s just become a prize tag to hang round the head of a great artist which is actually not one of his best works ❤

[weallneedjustice]

It was very purly painted. I couldn't even begin to highlight those endless, immature mistakes.