Aivazovsky's Painting in Yevgeny Petrosyan's Collection Valued at One Million Dollars

Elena Stepanenko and Yevgeny Petrosyan divorced last year. The reason for the separation is said to be the comedian's assistant, Tatyana Brukhunova, who is 44 years younger than the 74-year-old artist. The division of Petrosyan and Stepanenko's assets is still ongoing.

Recently, Petrosyan announced on Instagram that he doesn’t have access to his belongings, manuscripts, and his computer (everything that remains in the apartment where his ex-wife now lives), which hinders his ability to work normally.

The art collection assembled by the couple has been transferred to the custody of Elena Stepanenko by court order. Stepanenko does not allow Petrosyan to enter that apartment. It is said that the comedians' collection resembles a small Tretyakov Gallery, sufficient for several generations.

“One of the canvases in Petrosyan's collection, the original by Ivan Aivazovsky titled 'Moonlight Night on the Sea,' is valued at one million dollars. Experts have previously confirmed the authenticity of the canvas. Moreover, the one million dollars is only the starting auction price. It is possible that it will be sold for a higher price,” reports 'Komsomolskaya Pravda,' citing its sources.

According to the publication, there is also a painting by Kandinsky valued at half a million dollars (though its price has likely increased now). The collection also includes works by Polenov, Matisse, Tsadkin, Marc Chagall, and Kazimir Malevich.