Here are some fascinating facts about Da Vinci:

• He was born on April 15^th, 1452.
• He was left-handed.
• Da Vinci had no formal education beyond basic reading, writing, and math.
• By the age of 14, Leanardo had learned many skills such as metalworking, leather arts, drawing, painting, and sculpting.
• Of the nearly 200 pieces of art created by Da Vinci, only 20 are believed to have survived today. Of those, only 15 have been authenticated as truly being his work.
• “The Last Supper”, one his most famous patinings, survived a bomb during WW2.
• Some of his most famous pieces were the Mona Lisa (1503); Lady with an Ermine (1489); The Annunciation (1472); and Salvator Mundi (1490-1500), one of the most recent discoveries, which was his portrayal of Jesus as Saviour of the World. Salvator Mundi sold at an auction for a whopping $450.3 million.

In the last example, Salvator Mundi was an abandoned piece of art that was bought by an art dealer who paid approximately $1,000 when he noticed it on the website of a New Orleans Auction Gallery. When it was discovered, the painting was actually indistinguishable as a Da Vinci piece. Art historians began the long process of retouching, extensive reviewing, and restoration.

Many experts still doubt whether this piece is an authentic Da Vinci creation, which is surprising. The extent to which an art enthusiast will go to restore a piece of art to prove its authenticity, linking it to Da Vinci as the painter, and the price someone is willing to pay for that piece of history, would involve a lot of work! The Salvator Mundi piece was eventually auctioned for $450 Million dollars in November of 2017.

Sadly, the only person that can truly authenticate his work died on May 2, 1519, but today, he may be pleased that his work is featured in many museums and priceless private collections around the world.

Information on the artwork:

Fully Restored: November 15, 2017 at Christie’s in New York (auction)
Auction Description Read: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Salvator Mundi, painted circa 1500. 25⅞ x 18 in (65.7 x 45.7 cm). Sold for $450,312,500 in the Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale on 15 November 2017 at Christie’s in New York