A painting by Russian-Armenian seascape artist Ivan Aivazovsky was auctioned off at Christie's for $780,000, TASS reports.

"Venice at Sunset" by Aivazovsky (1817-1900) was initially estimated to fetch £400,000-600,000;

Also among Christie's top lots were "Self-Portrait in a Gray Smock" and "Portrait of Vera Shukhaeva, the Artist's Wife" by Vasilii Shukhaev (1887-1973); and stage design for "Daphnis and Chloe" ballet Acts I and III by Leon Bakst.