Lowy Frames a Record-Breaking Masterpiece
Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait, Salvator Mundi (Christ as Savior of the World), was auctioned off at Christie’s Auction House for a record-setting $450.3 million, surpassing all previous records for artworks purchased at auction or privately. It was a remarkable step for the Old Masters art market and a historic event for all of us at Lowy.
The frame that surrounds the masterpiece was provided by Lowy, carefully selected from our extensive collection of antique frames. When Lowy selected the 16th-century Italian cassetta frame for da Vinci’s painting, little did we know that our addition would help the artwork shatter auction records for the work that Christie’s called “the last da Vinci”.
As thousands of people flocked to pre-auction viewings to glimpse the painting and as the world tuned in to the live sale at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York City, the Lowy team was watching with reverence and pride at people’s awed reactions to the wonder that is a magnificent marriage of art and frame.
Over the years, Lowy has had the opportunity to frame works by celebrated artists including Rembrandt, El Greco, van Gogh, Cézanne, Modigliani, Miró, Chagall, Léger, among many others. Treating rare masterpieces is what we do every day. Yet it is a special experience for us to help enhance a da Vinci aesthetically and play a role in its winding path to a $450 million record-breaking artwork.
The Right Frame Makes All the Difference
Lowy has dedicated itself to the preservation and presentation of art since our founding in 1907. We are often called upon to conserve works of art and frames from all periods and to match and fit celebrated artists’ creations with artisanal designs from our collection of over 5,000 antique frames that range from rare 16th century Renaissance through contemporary and modern designs.
The right frame can elevate a painting to perfection and increase its sale value. It is unusual, however, for auction houses to advertise the artworks they sell with frames. Christie’s decision to advertise Salvator Mundi with Lowy’s frame, including in the auction catalog, shows how Lowy’s expertise played a vital role in enhancing the painting, both aesthetically and monetarily.
We are grateful for this trust in Lowy’s expertise and taste. After all, there is never just one way to frame a painting. As with every project, our goals in framing Salvator Mundi were to amplify the spirit of the artwork, preserve its integrity, and honor the artist’s intent.
After framing his first da Vinci and achieving his first hole-in-one within the same year, Larry Shar, the second of three generations of Shars to own Lowy, reflected on his accomplishments saying, “My father would be very proud”. So let us raise a toast to the magic of the frame and to the experienced, skilled, and learned artisans, carvers, conservators, framers, gilders, and restorers in whose able hands art is rediscovered and reinvented, and histories are brought to life.
Here are some other choices from the Lowy inventory that were considered for the framing of Salvator Mundi.
In addition to Lowy’s inventory of antique frames, we also make hand-carved reproduction frames in styles from every historical period and country of origin.
Let Lowy’s experts and over 100 years of experience help you elevate your painting with the perfect frame. Perhaps your “Leonardo,” too, will someday become worth half a billion dollars. For questions or to schedule a consultation, please contact us.