A rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci auctioned in New York on Wednesday night fetched over $450 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.

ABC News reports that fewer than 20 paintings by the Italian artist are believed to still exist.

Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece Salvator Mundi achieves $450,312,500, a #worldauctionrecord for any work of art sold at auction. pic.twitter.com/snKxm7t3cb

— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) November 16, 2017

The 500-year-old oil on panel, titled "Salvator Mundi" ("Savior of the World"), depicts Jesus Christ dressed in flowing robes and holding a crystal orb in his left hand.

Loci Gouzer of Christie's auction house in New York said the Salvator Mundi was painted in the same time frame as the Mona Lisa.

Scholars had long believed Salvator Mundi was destroyed, until it re-emerged in 2005, according to ABC.

"'Salvator Mundi' is a painting of the most iconic figure in the world by the most important artist of all time," Gouzer said. "Despite being created approximately 500 years ago, the work of Leonardo is just as influential to the art that is being created today as it was in the 15th and 16th centuries."