Extremely cultured buyer of record breaking da Vinci painting revealed.

**The Gurkhan** · December 07, 2017, 06:28 PM

Apparently the mysterious purchaser of a valuable piece of Renaissance Christian art is none other than Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A man spawning from a family which has spent various periods of the last 100+ years systematically obliterating Islamic art and architecture. While simultaneously spending billions attempting erode traditional structures of authority throughout global Islam.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-a...nci-1512674099

Many angles to examine here....

For instance, how does this tally with his attempts at portraying himself as a fighter against endemic Saudi corruption and extravagance?

Certain public movements or elements in Western societies have convinced themselves al-Saud is their foe despite all evidence to the contrary. How will these increasingly drooling elements react?

Is he genuinely enamored of priceless art or is this some sort of sound investment plan for a rocky future?

**athanaric** · December 07, 2017, 06:44 PM

I don't know, but maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt. He isn't king yet, after all, and not responsible for most of the past atrocities committed by his dynasty. And so far, he seems to be attempting to dial down the official Wahhabi craziness level a bit. Although, wasn't he involved in the war in Yemen?

**The Gurkhan** · December 07, 2017, 06:45 PM

He is basically running the country.

**NorseThing** · December 07, 2017, 08:17 PM

This is not complicated. A big purchase for a new museum -- Louvre Abu Dhabi. This puts the museum on the map so to speak.

**Yayattasa** · December 11, 2017, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by NorseThing

This is not complicated. A big purchase for a new museum -- Louvre Abu Dhabi. This puts the museum on the map so to speak.

You think SA will donate that piece to the UAE so easily? And they are disputing their borders since forever, more specifically the corridor to Qatar.
The Louvre at Abu Dhabi is already borrowing art from France, so they are already on the map.

**LinusLinothorax** · December 11, 2017, 07:07 AM

Very good, yet another big waste of money by the Saudi family. May they continue to buy antique paintings, golden cars and oversized scyscrapers while leaving the country itself underdeveloped. The reserves are dwindling

**athanaric** · December 11, 2017, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Yayattasa

You think SA will donate that piece to the UAE so easily? And they are disputing their borders since forever, more specifically the corridor to Qatar.
The Louvre at Abu Dhabi is already borrowing art from France, so they are already on the map.

Maybe they'll just lend it to the UAE. Would be a nice bit of additional leverage I imagine.