The Enchanting Replica: Mona Lisa Rises to €210,000 in Paris
Picture this: an almost identical twin of Leonardo da Vinci’s timeless masterpiece lands in the bustling halls of Artcurial on a crisp Wednesday night. The art house’s star— a 17th‑century copy of the iconic Mona Lisa—tagged it with a price range of €150,000 to €200,000, but the final bid surged to €210,000€, or roughly SGD 385,000.
Why This Copy Tickles the Market
- Age & authenticity: Estimated to date from the 1600s, the portrait mirrors the original’s subtle charm.
- Provenance: Historically, Leonardo’s genuine canvas was acquired by French King Francois I in 1518 and now graces the Louvre’s gallery, drawing millions for its enigmatic smile.
- Market buzz: Just months earlier, a European collector snapped up another 17th‑century replica for a staggering €2.9 million—a record-breaking headline gig!
Quick Flashback
Remember 2017 when Christie’s in New York unveiled Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi for an astonishing $450 million? That controversy set the stage for fragmentation of the spotlight between genuine portraits and high‑quality copies.
In the Same Pantheon of Price Hikes
Art enthusiasts are still buzzing over tales of a copy that fetched a cool $4.6 million at a Paris auction— earned the moniker “madness” by collectors. The present sale contributes another intriguing chapter to the saga.
Bottom line: even when not Napoleon’s original, Leonardo’s brushstroke echoes through history, and Paris is proving it’s still a hotspot for art lovers willing to pay big bucks for a copy that feels almost as elusive as the real masterpiece.
