Saudi prince revealed as buyer of ‘Salvator Mundi’

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Salvator Mundi buyer is revealed | After weeks of speculation as to the identity of the buyer of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, the New York Times has revealed the painting’s new owner to be Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, a prince from a ‘remote’ branch of the Saudi royal family. According to the article, Prince Bader is close to the country’s reformist crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, but has ‘no history as a major art collector’. ArtNet has since published a useful analysis of the disclosure, which includes speculation as to why – as was announced hours before the NYT story broke – the painting will soon be heading to the recently opened Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Getty collection will stay put as wildfires rage in southern California | The J.Paul Getty Center’s art collection is to stay in place despite the outbreak of severe wildfires in its immediate vicinity. According to CNN, fires have engulfed he hills around the Center, leading to its temporary closure. However, the Getty Trust’s Ron Hartwig has told reporters that the complex is ‘the safest place the artwork could be in a situation like a wildfire’.

Laura Paulson is to leave Christie’s | Laura Paulson, global chairman of 20th century art at Christie’s, has left the auction house to go into independent art advisory. Paulson joined Christie’s in 1989, and has since overseen many major sales. The auction house confirmed that her last day was on 17 November.

University of Iowa announces new gallery for its art collection | The University of Iowa has been bequeathed $10m to construct a new gallery to house its art collection, replacing a previous facility that was vulnerable to flooding. According to the Des Moines Register, the donation comes courtesy of Iowa alumnus Richard Stanley, who died in November, and his wife Mary Jo. Construction on the new $50m gallery, which will be named in the Stanleys’ honour, is expected to begin in 2018.

Anne-Imelda Radice is stepping down as director of American Folk Art Museum | Anne-Imelda Radice is to leave the American Folk Art Museum in 2018, after over five years at the helm of the institution. Radice, who joined the museum in 2012, is widely credited with having been instrumental in improving its previously troubled financial situation and saving it from closure.