The love story behind a lost Leonardo
When internationally-renowned art restorer Dianne Modestini was asked to work on an old, damaged painting, she had no idea it would go on to become the world鈥檚 most expensive.
When internationally-renowned art restorer Dianne Modestini was asked to work on an old, damaged painting in 2005, she had no idea it would go on to become the world鈥檚 most expensive. The painting of Christ was believed to be inspired by the Italian master Leonardo da Vinci, but was eventually attributed to the artist himself. It went on to sell at auction for US $450,000,000.
Throughout the arduous task of restoring the painting Dianne had felt the presence of her late husband, the great Italian conservator Mario Modestini. He had seen the picture shortly before his death and working on it kept him alive for her.
As she restored the image, Dianne became convinced that it was by the hand of the master. Close comparison to the Mona Lisa convinced her that no one else in the world could have painted it, and a panel of authenticators came to agree that it was da Vinci鈥檚 lost masterpiece, the Salvator Mundi.
Producer: Nathan Gower
Presenter: Emily Webb
Image: Dianne Modestini with the Salvator Mundi
Credit: Cheryl Rossum
Podcast
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The Outlook Podcast Archive
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
