BROOKLYN, NY - Opening on April 3 – July 31, 2023, the Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is pleased to announce a free exhibition of the Salvator Mundi Tapestry, currently believed to be a 17th-century weaving paying homage to Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, Salvator Mundi.
“This is truly a momentous exhibition and find. It is a great honor and once a lifetime discovery for us to unveil this addition to the Salvator Mundi story” ….. Board of Advisors – Salvator Mundi Museum of Art
Regarded as a "beautiful hidden gem in the heart of the Colombia Waterfront," the Salvator Mundi Museum of Art continues to be dedicated and inspired by the story of the world's most expensive work of art, the Salvator Mundi painting.
In 2017, Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman purchased the Salvator Mundi painting for a record-breaking $450 million. The museum in connection with the Salvator Mundi© brand is a continuation to the fascinating story, epitomizing the Cinderella-like, American Dream.
The Salvator Mundi tapestry was recently discovered in August 2019 by retired woodworker Thomas de Vries who came across the artifact while perusing the aisles of a now-defunct antique garage in Carlton, NY. The dusty, stained, wrinkled, roughly 54” X 76’’ wall hanging was piled on top of other remnants and old cloting ranging in styles and age. At first, it was the finely woven, delicate threads that caught Mr. de Vries’s eye, the fabric seemed to be in remarkable condition considering its age. However, it was the paper tag stapled to the fabric that really piqued his attention. A Dutch native, de Vries could quickly decipher the faded words Verlossaar der mensheid translated as “Savior of Mankind”. Mr. de Vries recognized the figure depicted as Jesus but, didn’t fully understand the artifact's significance. Nonetheless, for sixty-five dollars, the decision to buy the mysterious relic was easy.
When de Vries began searching the internet in the hopes to learning more about his new purchase, it wasn’t long before he came across the story of the Salvator Mundi painting. Mr. de Vries then contacted fellow dutchman and friend Ben van Meerendonk, who has a summer home in a neighboring town. Several months earlier van Meerendonk mentioned a local museum dedicated to the Salvator Mundi story that opened a few blocks away from his home in Brooklyn, NY.
Mr. van Meerendonk, an art collector himself, had joined the board for the Salvator Mundi Museum and showed an image of de Vries’s find to its curators. They were immediately drawn to the object and with the generous support of fellow Museum board members, were able to purchase the item from de Vries for the permanent collection.
Newly Discovered Savator Mundi Tapestry - 76" X 54" - circa 17th century
attached rag - Verlossaar der mensheid translated as “Savior of Mankind”
Antique store with discovered tapestry (lower left)
Print by: Wenceslaus Hollar - date: 1650
The S. Mundi Tapestry, as it is now referred, is currently undergoing extensive examination and restoration to determine its origins, history and hopefully, author. Research and analysis, including carbon dating, pigment identification, cloth forensics will lead to a better understanding of the significance of the object. The complete forensics and restoration of the tapestry are anticipated to be completed and fully documented by the end of 2024.
Literature in journals from the Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library in Antwerp, Belgium, mention a grand “Jezus muur opknoping (wall hanging)" dating back to the mid-1600s, yet the artist's identity remains unknown. However, this was during the same period and place where artist Wenceslaus Hollar made his well-known etching of the Salvator Mundi painting. Scholars believe somebody may have taken the original Da Vinci painting to the Netherlands to sell after the previous owner, The Duke of Hamilton, was tried and executed in 1649. According to some descriptions, the wall hanging possessed unworldly powers and healing abilities, luring visitors from all across the Dutch region to visit the tapestry for feelings of “welzijn en krachtig” (well-being and powerful).
The Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is pleased to present an exhibition announcing its acquisition of S. Mundi Tapestry. During the period of its restoration, the Museum has produced and will display a fully envisioned reproduction of the original S. Mundi Tapestry at aproximately 8/10ths scale. The exhibition will run from April 8th thru June 31st 2023.
For a limited time, art lovers and Salvator Mundi enthusiasts can admire the tapestry for free at the Salvator Mundi Museum of Art.
“One of my favorite secret art spots. A real hole in the wall museum dedicated to the real Salvator Mundi. Highly recommended” – Science Saves – Google Review
For more information about the museum, please visit www.SalvatorMundiMuseum.org
Media Contact
Company Name: Salvator Mundi Museum of Art
Contact Person: RS Mundi
Email: Send Email
Phone: 9293659680
Address:144 Union Street
City: Brooklyn
State: NY 11231
Country: United States
Website: http://www.salvatormundimuseum.org/
