Leonardo's Salvator Mundi painting may not feature at Da Vinci exhibit

After tedious efforts for over ten years, Paris's famous Louvre Museum will host the biggest ever Leonardo da Vinci exhibition next week, as per international reports. The exhibition is hosted to mark the 500th death anniversary of the Italian Renaissance master. Louvre - the world's most visited museum is reportedly preparing for the huge crowds expected to visit the exhibit.

Biggest Leonardo da Vinci exhibition opens

Dubbed as one of France's most expensive exhibitions ever, the exhibit is a first that such a large number of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings, sketches, writings, and paintings will reportedly be displayed. Reports state that the exhibit had been nearly thwarted by last year's diplomatic standoff between Italy and France. But the biggest question hanging over the exhibition is not a political one, but an artistic one.

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Here are a few photos of the exhibition:

Photo: Antoine Mongodin

Photo: Antoine Mongodin

Photo: Antoine Mongodin

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Will Salvator Mundi be there?

Reports state that whether the world’s most expensive painting - Salvator Mundi would be displayed is yet uncertain. The owner of the art piece depicting Jesus in Renaissance dress is reportedly shrouded in mystery. Experts believe that the painting was once held by someone in the Gulf.

Apart from the Salvator Mundi, Leonardo's Mona Lisa will reportedly continue to remain upstairs in its usual permanent hanging place. The exhibition will exhibit nine of the fifteen paintings the Renaissance Master had painted ever, as per reports. The temporary space devoted to the exhibition can reportedly hold only 7000 people per day. On the other hand, on an average, the Mona Lisa attracts around 30,000 visitors per day and hence will reportedly not be included in the temporary exhibit.

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About Leonardo da Vinci

The finest painter, scientist, engineer and inventor, Leonardo was born in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci in 1452. As an illegitimate son of a notary, Vinci worked in Florence and Milan and spent his final years at the court of the French king Francis I in the Loire. Considered as a visionary genius, many of Leonardo's artwork, engineering models continue to inspire artists and engineers to this date.

Leonardo is most famous for his paintings like the last supper, Mona Lisa which will be in display at the exhibition. He is also credited for his notable engineering inventions like parachutes, aerial screw and ornithopter. The Italian master died on 2 May 1519 in France.

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