Nadav Kander directs “The World Is Watching” for Christie’s auction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi”

To announce its auction of Leonardo da Vinci‘s Salvator Mundi, “the greatest artistic rediscovery of the last 100 years,” Christie’s commissioned Nadav Kander to direct a short film that expressed the significance of this rarely seen portrait of Christ and the feeling of being in the presence of a true masterpiece.

But instead of featuring the painting itself, Kander and ad agency Droga5 chose a decidedly different perspective.

“Working with the world-renowned portrait photographer Nadav Kander, it was decided to honour the significance of Salvator Mundi…by turning the tables and documenting its profound effect on those looking and pointing their camera phones,” the auction house explains at its website.

“Within the beautifully lit Christie’s exhibition space in Rockefeller Center, a camera was set up beneath the Salvator Mundi to record a video portrait of those who came to spend time with it. Using the wide range of responses to the masterpiece, a single piece of film has been created that shows the divine moment of connection between this powerful, mysterious, enigmatic portrayal of Christ and those who have felt compelled to observe it.

The film is cut to four minutes and 14 seconds to reflect the fact that in his painting, Leonardo presents Christ as he is characterised in the Gospel of John 4:14: ‘And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the World.’” (Read more here.)

Adweek called the short film, in which Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio makes an appearance, “sublime.” The painting went on to break auction records, selling for $450.3 million, reports ArtNews.

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