With an ever-increasing selection of fine and decorative art, Gene Shapiro Auctions will hold its next auction of Russian and International Art on April 28 and 29, 2012. The two-day sale will feature 305 lots of paintings, books, and works on paper on Saturday, April 28, and 333 lots comprised of icons, works of art, bronzes, and porcelain on Sunday, April 29. As always, Russian art forms the core of the auction, with European, American and Asian works comprising an integral part of the sale. A viewing will take place during the week prior to the auction, with the gallery open daily from April 21 to 27, 10am to 6pm at 506 East 74 Street, New York, NY.

The Saturday portion of the auction will bring together a wide variety of works spanning the centuries and continents, including: a Dutch Golden Age inspired landscape by the 19th c. Netherlandish artist B. C. Koekkoek; a painting of a horse-mounted Kurd by the Russian master of panorama painting, Franz Roubaud; a number of works by the members of the Russian World of Art movement, including Dmitry Stelletsky, Konstantin Korovin, Sergei Sudeikin, Alexandre Benois, and Alexander Yakovlev; a view of a snow covered Russian monastery by Konstantin Gorbatov; 20th and 21st c. accumulations by Arman; a hypnotizing oil painting of a jar by Oleg Tselkov.

Some of the highlights from the first portion of the auction include a group of spiritual landscapes by Nikolai Roerich depicting Tibet and the coast of Maine, all included in a 1930 Roerich Museum catalogue (estimates ranging from $25,000-35,000 to $125,000-175,000). A couple of works by Isaac Levitan including a large oil painting of a horse-drawn sled in a snowy village, and a precious view of a rocky shore are included in the sale ($120,000-180,000 and $35,000-60,000, respectively). A number of spectacular books and works of paper will also be presented at the auction. Among them is a two volume coronation album of Nicholas II, gloriously illustrated with plates from originals by Vasnetsov and Repin, among others, set alongside photographs of the royal family, and coronation memorabilia such as guest lists and menus ($30,000-40,000). A number of early Soviet masterpieces, such an exceptionally rare and masterfully designed propagandistic photographic album documenting the industrialization of the Soviet Union designed by El Lissitzky, Industriya sotsializma [The Industry of Socialism] ($12,000-15,000), and a first edition of Ot kubizma i futurizma k suprematizmu [From Cubism and Futurism to Suprematism], the cover of which is photolitrhographed with Kazmir Malevich's iconic Black Square ($3,000-3,500).

Sunday, bidders will be presented with a wondrous selection of Russian icons, silver, enamels, crystal, porcelain, bronzes and militaria. A rare First Class order and star badge of St. Anne, accompanied by the original box and sash, as well as an antique First Class order of St. Stanislaus by Kiebel, will be available for purchase ($30,000-40,000 and $4,500-5,000, respectively). At 48 lots, icons will play a significant part in the auction, with many protected by beautifully enamelled oklads. Works of art by renown Russian masters such as Karl FabergE Gustav Klingert, Ivan Saltykov, Feodor REkert, and Alexander Liubavin abound. Several striking works by FabergEand his workmasters, including a delicate bell push decorated in translucent lilac guilloche enamel set with scapolite cabochons ($17,000-25,000), and a rose gold and sapphire cigarette case by August Frederick Hollming ($10,000-15,000), will be among the items offered. Works from the Imperial factories, such as an impressive pair of Imperial cut-crystal, ormolu-mounted urns ($50,000-70,000), and a beautifully hand-painted plate from the Babigon service with a view of the royal Konstantinov residence ($15,000-20,000) will, as always, form a portion of the sale.

The auction and the preview will take place at Gene Shapiro Auctions at 506 East 74 Street, New York, NY, and a detailed full color catalogue as well as bidding forms are available on our website.