The Salvator Mundi is the latest artwork to be given the title of “most controversial painting.” This may be because of the seemingly exorbitant amount paid for a painting with a number of serious defects, which, theoretically, should have kept its auction price in check.
Dmitry Rybolovlev had accused a Swiss art dealer of overcharging him by nearly $US1 billion while purchasing 38 paintings on his behalf. One of the pieces also had authenticity concerns.