It is highly unusual for an Old Master painting to appear at an auction alongside works by the likes of Andy Warhol. Christie’s decision to offer Salvator Mundi at a contemporary art evening sale is clearly an attempt to pitch the work at collectors beyond the traditional hinterland and into areas where big-spending buyers may be less condition-conscious.
The fact that Christie’s has dropped Old Master sales in January and now stage them as part of its ‘Classic Week’ in April may also have been a factor in the decision.