A mysterious masterpiece by a genius (Part I)
By Ama H. Vanniarachchy
Leonardo da Vinci, an outstanding masterminded painter, has fascinated the world with his extraordinarily exceptional talent through his work. His ‘Mona Lisa’ is unarguably the world’s most famous, most valued, and most loved painting of the modern world. ‘Mona Lisa’ is a work of art and science, created by a genius. What is fascinating the most about da Vinci’s paintings is his painting techniques and style.
Among the notable works of da Vinci, the painting today known as ‘Salvator Mundi’ has stirred the world of art for many reasons; the mysterious disappearance, the mysterious appearance, and the mysterious authorship of the painting. The painting as a work of art is extremely brilliant and for sure is a work of a genius.
According to records, da Vinci painted ‘Salvator Mundi’ for King Louis XII of France during the 15th/16th century. The beautiful painting, a work of oil on a panel, depicts a half-length figure of Jesus Christ, as the Saviour of the World. He is facing the viewer and dressed in Renaissance-Period attire.
Christ is gazing at the viewer, with a strange look on his face; da Vinci has captured the graceful nature of Christ, as a compassionate and dedicated saviour of mankind. He holds a crystal sphere in his left hand and his right hand in a benediction hand gesture.
The painting
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Year: 1499 – 1510
Medium: Oil on walnut panel
Dimensions: 45.7 cm * 65. 7 cm
Current location/owner: Acquired by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism for the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Records say that this masterpiece is currently owned by Mohammad bin Salman.
The art work
Why is it a masterpiece and why has it captured the world through its allure and grace?
Da Vinci is known for his unique and flawless painting style and technique. Every inch of the painting speaks of da Vinci’s signature style. The graceful face of Christ in this painting clearly reminds us of Mona Lisa’s face and other portraits of da Vinci. The piercing yet graceful gaze of Christ in ‘Salvator Mundi’ is similar to Mona Lisa’s gaze. Yet, the bewitching smile of the Mona Lisa is absent here.
The detailing of the drapery and Christ’s hair is simply outstanding. The hands and the skin of the face are painted using da Vinci’s famous sfumato technique.
Sfumato technique
‘Sfumato’ means smoky and it is a blending technique for softening the transition between colours to avoid sharp, unnatural lines. This is why most of da Vinci’s paintings don’t have hard edges or sharp outlines. This very Sfumato technique is one reason, explained by modern art historians, why da Vinci’s work is unique.
Christ is portrayed with a serene expression, gentle gaze, and enigmatic smile that are characteristic of da Vinci’s style. The artist’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the painting, from the delicate rendering of Christ’s face and hands to the intricately textured fabrics of his robe. Leonardo’s use of chiaroscuro, or the subtle interplay of light and shadow, imbues the figure with a sense of depth, volume, and realism that is truly breath-taking.
One of the most striking aspects of ‘Salvator Mundi’ is its composition, which is both dynamic and harmonious. Christ is depicted in a frontal pose, with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand holding a crystal orb representing the world.
The symmetrical arrangement of the figure creates a sense of balance and stability, while the subtle angles and curves of Christ’s body convey a sense of movement and grace, which is another signature style unique to da Vinci.
Leonardo’s mastery of perspective is also evident in ‘Salvator Mundi’, as seen in the rendering of the crystal orb and the distant landscape visible through the transparent sphere. The artist’s use of atmospheric perspective, which involves the gradual blurring of objects in the distance, adds depth and dimension to the painting, drawing the viewer’s eye toward the focal point of Christ’s face.
Da Vinci’s combination of oil glazes and thin layers of pigment to achieve a luminous effect allows light to penetrate the surface of the painting and illuminate the figure of Christ from within. This technique, known as sfumato, creates a soft, ethereal quality that is characteristic of da Vinci’s work.
To be continued…
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