When Salina sells a painting worth $2 million for $50, can she recover the painting later?

In this scenario, the question revolves around the concept of mutual mistake of value. A mutual mistake of value occurs when both parties involved in a contract are mistaken about the value of what they are trading. Since Salina sold a painting valued at $2 million for only $50, both she and the buyer were mistaken about the painting's true worth.

Under contract law, a mistake that pertains merely to the value of the subject matter does not generally allow for a party to rescind the contract or recover the sold item. In this case, because it was a mutual mistake regarding the value and not about the existence or fundamental nature of the painting itself, Salina cannot later take back the painting. The sale is considered valid, and the agreement stands as it reflects the mutual understanding at that time.

The notion that the extreme disparity in value could allow for rescission often does not hold in legal standards, especially when both parties made a mistake about the worth. Therefore, acknowledging it as a mutual mistake confirms that Salina cannot recover the painting later.