LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwire) -- 12/13/12 -- The World of Art Showcase (www.worldofartshowcase.com), a unique celebration of the visual arts featuring many of the world's most renowned painters and sculptures at The Wynn Las Vegas December 20-22, has just added the most prestigious name yet to their roster -- Leonardo da Vinci!

In Los Angeles last August, a bronze casting of a 500-year-old da Vinci beeswax sculpture was unveiled to the world by Las Vegas-based Art encounter, renowned fine art appraisers and brokers who have examined, appraised, and helped buy and sell works by some of the most prominent artists of the last 150 years.

For the first time in history, a limited number of Leonardo da Vinci bronze castings are now available to collectors. The works, titled "Horse and Rider," will be shown and sold at the World of Art Showcase.

The mold's owner, American businessman Richard A. Lewis, has committed to donating $1 million from the proceeds to the Salvation Army's substance abuse program.

"Horse and Rider," currently on display at The Venetian as part of the Da Vinci -- The Genius exhibit through January 27, 2013, is the only known three dimensional piece of art created by the renowned Renaissance artist still in existence.

The recent history behind the unveiling of "Horse and Rider" is fascinating. In 1987, Lewis purchased the mold from the original beeswax which had been authenticated by Professor Carlo Pedretti, widely considered the world's foremost living authority on Leonardo and professor emeritus of art history and the Chair of Leonardo Studies at UCLA.

From the mold a master bronze sculpture was created. Thus a new authenticated work was created from one of the world's artistic masters, nearly 500 years after his death.

After the stunning re-discovery of the mold, Mr. Lewis turned to Art encounter, whose expertise and 20 year background in the marketing and appraisal of fine art made them the perfect choice as the exclusive worldwide sales and distribution source for the extremely limited castings.

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