Aivazovsky painting fetches $1.35 mln at New York auction

19:30 | 22/ 04/ 2009

NEW YORK, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – A painting by Russian seascape
master Ivan Aivazovsky sold for $1.35 million on Wednesday at Sotheby’s
spring sale of Russian Art in New York, the auction house said.

The auction’s top lot, entitled Columbus Sailing from Palos, by the
Russian 19th century artist, was earlier given a price guide of $1-1.5
million.

Aivazovsky (1817 – 1900) created the work portraying Christopher
Columbus’ departure from Palos, Spain, to mark the 400-year anniversary
of his voyage to America. The painting was among works represented by
the artist at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893.

"Aivazovsky’s stunning portrayal of Columbus’ departure from Palos,
Spain, on August 2, 1492, is among the finest of such compositions to
ever appear at auction," Sotheby’s said in a press release.

The painting comes from the private collection of Joseph Davies, former
U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union.

A series of Russian Art auctions held by Sotheby’s in November in
London yielded a total of 25.2 million pounds ($36.9 mln), well below
pre-sale estimates, signaling a downturn in the recently booming
Russian art market.