A lost work by Leonardo da Vinci has been found in a private American collection. The painting Salvator Mundi, (below) which shows Christ raising his hand in blessing, will be unveiled a the National Gallery in London later this year.

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© Leonardo da Vinci
Salvator Mundi has been authenticated by experts as the missing Leonardo painting once owned by Charles I and Charles II. The painting was known to exist due to documentation and a 1750's engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar. The last important Leonardo discovery was a hundred years ago.

The painting is devotional image of oil on wood panel that is comparable in size to Leonardo's St. John the Baptist. The restoration process began with the hope that the painting might be by Leonardo, and the restorers were proved right.

The owners of the painting are a consortium of dealers, including Robert Simon, and the work is speculated to be worth around $200 million.

See the work, and others, at the National Gallery from November 9 until February 5.