The New Face of 'Salvator Mundi': AI Reconstructs a $450 Million Masterpiece

Imagine technology that can see deeper than a microscope—not into the structure of cells, but into a work of art . In his latest work, Brazilian researcher Átila Soares da Costa Filho undertook an analysis of one of the most controversial paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci—Salvator Mundi . Aided by artificial intelligence, he "reconstructed" the image of Christ to answer the question: does the conservation work carried out between 2007 and 2013 truly capture the spirit of the original?

The Mysterious Salvator Mundi: A Painting That Cost a Fortune

Sold in 2017 for a record $450.3 million , Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World) was considered a lost work by Leonardo da Vinci for decades. It depicts Christ shown frontally, with his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing and his left hand holding a transparent sphere – a symbol of the universe.

Although it achieved a staggering price, its authenticity was long controversial: it was attributed to Leonardo's pupils , and it was even questioned whether the master himself ever touched the canvas.

However, detailed conservation analyses, the presence of pentimenti (traces of changes made by the artist himself) and comparisons with other works by Leonardo convinced most researchers: it is authentic.

The greatest controversy surrounds the conservation work carried out by Dianne Modestini between 2007 and 2013. Many critics question whether the final version of the work truly reflects Leonardo's intentions and style .

Átila Soares da Costa Filho: When Art Meets Technology

Átila Soares da Costa Filho is an interdisciplinary scientist, art historian, and iconography enthusiast. In her signature series, " SPECIALS ," she combines advanced computer graphics, artificial intelligence, and Christian symbolism.

He previously gained fame for his reconstructions of figures from the Shroud of Turin and the Veil of St. Veronica . In his Salvator Mundi project, he "cleansed" the face of Christ, among other things, of the layers of stylization typical of Leonardo and revealed its most realistic appearance possible—as if the painting were meant to convey the essence of the depiction without artistic filters.

But that's not all, he recently looked at the image of Christ after the work was restored .

Luminari: A Digital Renaissance with the Help of AI

A key tool in Soares's research is his proprietary system, " Luminari ," a software system based on convolutional neural networks designed specifically for analyzing Old Master paintings . Although Leonardo left behind only 15 recognized paintings , Luminari successfully handles this limited dataset. The system analyzes, among other things, pigmentation, proportions, anatomical layout, and subtleties of style—such as sfumato or the shape of the hand—that escape the human eye.

During the reconstruction process , Luminari processed over 10 billion parameters , creating a digital version that – according to Soares – not only preserves the physiognomic features of the original, but also restores blurred details such as the eyebrow line, the contour of the mouth, and the delicate tonal transitions of the fabric.

A Mysterious Signature in the Eye? Leonardo's Signature on Salvator Mundi

As if that weren't enough, Soares raises another intriguing possibility: in Christ's right eye, a nearly invisible inscription can be seen—"Lionardo." Located along the lower curve of the iris, the possible signature resembles a hidden signature also known from other works by Leonardo , such as the Mona Lisa. Soares also recalls Leonardo's own words: "lascia la destra per la sinistra" ("abandon your right eye to see with your left eye")—perhaps another clue hidden within the painting.

More about Átila Soares da Costa Filho's projects – including a complete reconstruction of Salvator Mundi – can be found on his website under SPECIALS: Salvator Mundi .