Leonardo da Vinci’s 500th anniversary — his biggest show ever — is being celebrated at the Louvre. The museum could not include the Salvator Mundi because, it has been argued, this famed portrait of Christ may or may not be a real da Vinci. Sold for $450 million, the Saudi prince owner will not allow the painting to be shown, lest it be discredited.
However, Leo’s cast bronze “Horse and Rider” will hit today’s auction block at Guernsey’s. Historians have claimed this sculpture’s from an original wax figurine and, thus, is a long lost da Vinci. Debaters mutter mayhap it got sculpted by maybe some other Leonardo. Like maybe DiCaprio.
The Times of London reported Katya Kazakina aka the “Art Detective” said the horse’s archaic armor could not be from 1400s Milan, from where da Vinci’s original sponsor is said to be. Smart art lady Dr. Constance Moffatt, who studied under da Vinci scholar Carlo Pedretti, says it is a legit true-blue da Vinci.
Face it, not a lot of folks around from the 1500s who you can actually ask, right?
If a real da Vinci bronze from the original wax mold it could be worth — give or take a few bucks — $50 million. If not, better you should buy some crayons.
RIP, lover of ladies
The late Robert Evans, big-time Paramount exec, big-time producer of “The Godfather,” big-time lover of wives like Ali MacGraw. I knew him, even from his small-time days. When he and brother Charles owned the Evan-Picone schmatta business. Smart, gorgeous, terrific, he did it with and to everybody. Back when Heidi Fleiss, the Hollywood Madam, said, “Trick or Treat,” Bob would say, “Trick.”
He made millions, then went broke. He married seven times — including MacGraw, Catherine Oxenberg, one non-actress beauty he’d met three months earlier.
Listen, I loved him — even when I actually didn’t even like him.
Please pay attention
Brooke Shields and Helena Christensen curate New York Academy of Art’s booth at Nick Korniloff’s Art Miami. Helena’s not only a model, she’s also a photographer who has taken photos of Brooke … Filming in NYC, “Madam Secretary’s” Téa Leoni was eating at Tudor City Steakhouse. Beet salad, iceberg lettuce, shrimp cocktail … And so the Rep can rip, Jerry Nadler stoked up at Due with osso bucco plus tartufo … Katie Couric and attorney Nancy Chemtob launching a Veterans Day campaign to combat PTSD.
Chuckle time
Saturday. Turn your clock back. Then Monday, turn yourself on. Stand Up for Heroes begins 8 p.m. The 13th annual, it’s produced by Caroline Hirsch of Carolines comedy club and Andrew Fox. The laughathon is a fund-raiser for wounded vets.
Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater — John Oliver, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Bruce Springsteen. Something’s Tuesday, but I can’t remember. I know there’s stuff rolling out at Bloomingdale’s. Also, Nick Kroll. Friday, Trevor Noah’s at MSG. Same time same place Saturday, Bill Maher.
Left of sense
Lofty lefties who earn well, whose news jobs are to report not distort, found ways to try and diminish Donald Trump’s victory this week. Yes, we’ll still war with the next wave of ISIS villains. Yes, Trump did take center stage — rightfully — to report the victory of killing killer Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Obama did it and was praised, Trump did it and was razzed. OK, you don’t like this president? It’s your right. That’s why you can survive with fat salaries in this great country. However, it is not your right to be against what was done to help America.
That is treachery. That is treasonable. That is traitorous.
If Moses trudged down from the Mount, now the tablets he’d carry would be Anacin.
Not only in New York, kids, not only in New York.
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