Provenance

Copied by Mary Linwood from the orginal painting by Carlo Dolci during a stay at Burghley House, 1789.
Displayed as the last work in Linwood's exhibition 1798.
Displayed alone in Linwood's exhibition 1799.
Although traditionally believed to have been bequeathed to Queen Charlotte by the artist herself, the work continued to be exhibited at Linwood's Leicester Square gallery until at least 1840, in the final room known as the Scripture Room which included needleworks of religious-themed Old Masters. Salvator Mundi was the first in four works displayed in this room. Despite the interest of the Earl of Exeter who offered her 300 guineas to purchase this needlework version, in Linwood's will it was bequeathed to 'the Reigning Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland [at that time Queen Victoria] my picture Salvator Mundi as an heirloom.' This picture was not, therefore, included in the posthumous sale of her possessions in 1846.

This provenance was also included in a catalogue entry for an exhibition held at Leicester museum in March 1945 to commemorate the centenary of Linwood's death, which notes:
Salvator Mundi after Carlo Dolci
(Bequeathed by Miss Linwood to H.M. Queen Victoria. From the Collections at Windsor Castle, lent by gracious permission of H.M. The King)

and reiterated six years later, in 1951, at another exhibition held in Linwood's home town of Leicester.

Exhibited:

Hanover Square Concert Rooms (second room): 1797, 1798, 1800, 1802 (possibly) and 1809-10

Leicester Square Gallery (variously in the third room and scripture room): 1810 (possibly), 1812, 1813, 1817, 1819, 1820, 1822, 1830, 1835 and 1840

Another work by Mary Linwood, a needlework picture after George Morland, sold Woolley and Wallis, 5 July 2023, lot 210.