Christ holds his crystal orb, representing the celestial and earthly sphere over which he is the savior, in Latin the salvator mundi. The frontal composition stays true to the subject’s prototype: the Byzantine icon. In typical depictions of the subject Christ holds two fingers up in benediction, but here he points only one finger upward. This unique treatment is a direct reference to Leonardo da Vinci’s famous John the Bapist pointing upward toward the creator. Here Christ’s orb and gesture make reference to both God’s realm in heaven and earth and to Christ’s position as intercessor on earth.

This painting is housed in its original ‘cassetta’ (Italian for small-box) frame, which has evidence of worm holes on the lower right inner edge, attesting to the ravages of time