Louvre in push to display 'missing' Da Vinci: culture expert

The Louvre museum has made an "offer" to the owner of the world's most expensive painting to allow it to be displayed in a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in Paris, a French cultural body chief said Thursday.

The world-famous Salvator Mundi has not been seen in public since it was sold for USD 450 million at a Christie's auction in 2017, amid speculation that it was purchased on behalf of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.

Organisers of the blockbuster Louvre exhibition, which opened last week, have not ruled out a last-minute appearance for the painting.

"To have the painting in the exhibition in the Louvre would have been a win-win situation for all parties involved. I am sad... but the doors are still open," said Chris Dercon, president of the French government-run cultural body Rmn Grand Palais.

"I have all reasons to believe that the directors and the curators of the Louvre... made an offer to the owner or owners of this fantastic Salvator Mundi. There is still a way to share this work not only with the specialists but also with the public."