Greetings & Salutations Everyone,
All good things must come to an end.
That age old saying doesn’t always apply. Imagine an artist or author long gone could come back and compose one more poem, write one more book, sculpt one more masterpiece, or create one more painting. In a way, the world got its wish on this occasion, briefly. Sometimes, a mystery will appear out of history’s shadow that will breathe new life into the legend of an artist and their work. Today’s film for your consideration, follows a mystery that surrounds one of the greatest artists the world has ever known Leonardo Da Vinci.
‘The Lost Leonardo’ is a documentary film which was released on August 20th and directed by Andreas Koefoed that follows the mystery surrounding the Salvator Mundi. Also known as ‘The Male Mona Lisa’, the painting is a depiction of Jesus alleged to be a long lost work of Leonardo Da Vinci that resurfaced in America years after its existence was considered myth and has now disappeared once again. The film includes interviews with Georgina Adam, Martin Kemp, Robert Simon, Evan Beard, Robert King Wittman, Jerry Saltz, Yves Bouvier, Alexander Parish, Alexandra Bregman, Antoine Harari, and Dianne Dwyer Modestini. A veritable ensemble of people in fields that converge around the world of paintings that works like those of Da Vinci would fall into.
The Salvator Mundi. The controversy surrounding it has captivated the world. The painting’s history and authenticity has divided artists, journalists, bankers, art experts, intellectuals, and even intelligence officials and governments. Even after careful and painstaking examinations of the work, people are still undecided if it is the most recent discovered work of the great Da Vinci, the creation of a student of Da Vinci’s, perhaps an artist who admired Da Vinci, or simply someone looking to turn the world upside down.
What is generally agreed upon is that the work is dated between 1499-1510 and is attributed to the High Renaissance. Many claim it to be a long lost work of Da Vinci while others claim he only contributed small aspects to it although chalk and ink ‘prep’ drawings are in the possession of the British Royal Collection. In November of 2017, the painting created shockwaves once again when it was sold by Christie’s in New York for $450.3 million making it the most expensive painting to ever be sold at auction in history. Then, it disappeared once again.
For a documentary, I also found it to be one of the most intriguing mysteries I’ve had the good fortune to see.
One cannot deny that Leonardo and his work have captives the world for centuries and will continue to do so. The very idea that we would get one last work by the great artist is something many of us would wish for. Regardless of its real, what has become of it, and if the we’ll get to see it again will leave humanity in suspense. Art, history, and mystery converge in this documentary in the best way possible so if you like ANY of the three alone you’re in for a treat. The film clocks in at 96 minutes but it goes by fast. Personally, I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars.
The film shows in the Phoenix area exclusively at Harkins
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