The Last Leonardo The Secret Life of the World's Most Expensive Painting

Ben Lewis takes readers on a captivating journey through the life and legacy of Leonardo Da Vinci, 500 years after the artist's death. At the heart of this adventure is the 'Salvator Mundi' - a lost painting by Da Vinci that was sold for a record-breaking $450 million in 2017. The painting is widely regarded as the last one that will be discovered and sold, and is often referred to as the 'Last Leonardo'. Lewis weaves together biography, art history, history, and thriller genres to create a compelling narrative that uncovers the story of this enigmatic painting and the dealings of the contemporary art world.

Through the prism of the Salvator Mundi, Lewis explores the highs and lows of the art world, tracing its vicissitudes across five centuries and its intrinsic links with the social and political systems of the time. From the passions that drove collectors to acquire the work, to the philistinism that almost destroyed it, readers will experience a twisting tale of geniuses and gangsters, double-crossing and disappearances, where the truth is never quite clear.

The Last Leonardo is a gripping adventure story that takes readers on a search for lost treasure - a work of art with totemic power that existed until recently only in myth and legend. With its mix of art history, biography, and thriller, this book offers an original and fascinating perspective on the life and legacy of one of the world's most celebrated artists.