Salvator Mundi

The Master of the Pala Sforzesca's Salvator Mundi in the Fitzwilliam Museum depicts Christ as the Savior of the World — holding the orb of the earth and raising his hand in blessing — an image type of ancient Byzantine origin that acquired new prominence in the fifteenth century as a devotional image emphasizing Christ's divine sovereignty. The Master's Leonardesque training gives this image an unusual depth — the sfumato modeling of Christ's face and the soft psychological presence are distinctly Milanese in character, differentiating it from the harder, more schematic Salvator Mundi images produced in other Italian centers.

Christ appears in three-quarter bust view, orb in one hand and blessing gesture with the other. The Master's Leonardesque sfumato creates soft transitions across the face, with a gentle, penetrating gaze. The orb is carefully rendered as a translucent sphere, a technical challenge met with Lombard precision.