Russian icons from collection of Lawrence Steinhardt, the former USA ambassador to the USSR in 1939-1941, have been put up for sale by the Bonhams auction house.

      The collection comprises over 60 icons by several Russian icon-painting schools of the 16th - early 20th centuries, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.

      “Among the most interesting works one should mention is the rare icon Deisis of Christ Emmanuel (estimated at $80 000 to 120 000), and a three-part Smolensk icon with Holy Mother and baby Christ (estimated at $80 000 to 120 000).

      Exceptional quality and matchless painting skill that are characteristic of the iconography works in the presented collection lend evidence to the collector’s special intuition and profound knowledge of Russian culture” - the action press-release emphasizes. The auction is scheduled to be held on April 10 in New York.