The Lost Leonardo

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2:06

The Lost Leonardo

PG-13

2021

1h 30m

Documentary

Drama

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Popcornmeter

98%

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80 Reviews

82%

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50+ Ratings

THE LOST LEONARDO tells the inside story behind the Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting ever sold at $450 million, claimed to be a long-lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. From the moment it is purchased from a shady New Orleans auction house, and its buyers discover masterful brushstrokes beneath its cheap restoration, the fate of the Salvator Mundi is driven by an insatiable quest for fame, money and power. But as its price soars, so do questions about its authenticity. Is this multi-million dollar painting actually by Leonardo -- or do certain power players simply want it to be? Unravelling the hidden agendas of the world's richest men and most powerful art institutions, THE LOST LEONARDO reveals how vested interests became all-important, and the truth secondary.

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Critics Consensus

A documentary that feels like a heist thriller, The Lost Leonardo paints an arresting portrait of some of the art world's most colorful characters.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

There have been several recent films about the pressures dictating prices on the international art market, but none have been as instructive -- or as enthralling -- as The Lost Leonardo.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2021

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Perhaps Da Vinci should have painted Christ throwing the art dealers out of the temple.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 10, 2021

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Sweet heavens, this is strong.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 10, 2021

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Michael Cook

Geek Vibes Nation

There’s never a dull moment as Koefoed bounces between talking heads, b-roll footage, and dramatic reenactments to weave together the tale of this unlikely painting.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 17, 2025

Full Review

Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

A detective story of a doco. It isn't a new approach, let alone a unique or unusual one, but it savvily relies upon the combined force of a ripping yarn and rollicking storytelling.

Jul 8, 2022

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Dan Bayer

Next Best Picture

Does what the best documentaries do: opens a door to an insular world and extends its scope to become something else entirely, showing how this small world can create ripples that expand throughout the larger world.

Rated: 9/10

May 10, 2022

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Loy

Didn’t know what to expect. Really enjoyed! Scary and disturbing. Must see if you’re a horror movie enthusiast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

Full Review

Dani

Very entertaining. ^_~

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/12/21

Full Review

TM

Interesting how politics and governments screw up art !

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/13/21

Full Review

rgsanchez615

Should be on Netflix or hulu.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/21

Full Review

Sylvia R

Interesting film about the inner workings of the art world. Nothing is what it seems to be as far as this art piece is concerned.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/21

Full Review

Gary H

A great story told well

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/21

Full Review

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Andreas Koefoed

Director

Jerry Saltz

Self

Dianne Dwyer Modestini

Self

Martin Kemp

Self

Robert K. Wittman

Self

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The Lost Leonardo: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

THE LOST LEONARDO tells the inside story behind the Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting ever sold at $450 million, claimed to be a long-lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. From the moment it is purchased from a shady New Orleans auction house, and its buyers discover masterful brushstrokes beneath its cheap restoration, the fate of the Salvator Mundi is driven by an insatiable quest for fame, money and power. But as its price soars, so do questions about its authenticity. Is this multi-million dollar painting actually by Leonardo -- or do certain power players simply want it to be? Unravelling the hidden agendas of the world's richest men and most powerful art institutions, THE LOST LEONARDO reveals how vested interests became all-important, and the truth secondary.

Director: Andreas Koefoed
Producer: Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Christoph Jörg
Screenwriter: Andreas Koefoed, Duska Zagorac, Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Mark Monroe, Christian Kirk Muff, Andreas Koefoed
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Pumpernickel Films, Elk Film, Mantaray Film
Rating: PG-13 (Nude Art Images)
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $445.3K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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