Not so simple.
 

The album " Ivan Aivazovsky " by Shaen Khachatryan claims that were sold in 2008 at auction paintings kolumbovskoy subjects: " The landing of Columbus ... " and "Ships of Columbus " are fragments of a single large leaf . And this results in an inferior picture of the cloth, fragments of which are allegedly sold paintings . I would refrain from such categorical conclusions. If the location of a large canvas we do not know it does not mean that it was cut .
Assuming that the fabric was cut , it begs the question , why? The first version of this canvas could be severely damaged with a large loss of the paint layer and the owner decided thus to save the remaining two pieces . The second version of barbaric confidence that two canvases can get more value than a single , albeit large . I think that the versions may be more , but it is not clear why it would sign these fragments hundred percent original fake autographs. After all, this casts doubt on the signature and picture.

To sell as separate things Aivazovsky.

Well signatories thought otherwise .

mismatch
 

After correction of the scope and application of the fragments on the black-and- white photograph , obtained some razbezhnosti . Designated razbezhnostey I marked with red arrows .
When nasloyke painting " The landing ...", no flag on the boat back to the right. When nasloyke painting " Arrival ...", it is clear that in the colored version does not paddle left and there are not so intense reflection in the water towers . Also, on the b /w photos no light spot reflections in front of the schooner .

Not so simple.
 

The second question is , What is the fabric has undergone quartered , if any .
It is known that the subject of the discovery of America excited Aivazovsky long before the celebration of the 400th anniversary and the above-mentioned exhibition in Chicago. Namely - in August 1880, Aivazovsky reported that the fall will bring to St. Petersburg two huge paintings from the cycle of discovery of America . Some time this painting adorning the walls of his gallery in Feodosia. ( the first image pattern can be seen on the right wall )
In the foreground of the painting Indian boat , and for the exhibition in Chicago was painted a different picture and surf at the shore for more boats and no Indian .

Not so simple.
 

On a fragment depicting Columbus and his entourage , the right edge of the picture cuts off part of the boat , but that work , which depicted a boat with more peaceful state of the sea, which does not correspond to the passage of the sea . What was the third job? And where the previous two ? Or sold at auction work is separate and independent work with the help of which create paintings for the Chicago exhibition. But tormented question in an independent picture did not make sense vkraplyat nothing explaining piece boats . And if so, " Landing of Columbus " fragment , but not suited to any of the two considered large paintings .

Anyway , as an interesting study .

Perhaps this is a correct assumption . Here's why: on paintings sold at auction (or preparatory or fragments ) and not a bad characteristic Aivazovsky composition . Where Columbus - all too large and close , there is no sea, no horizon , many people , all clumsy ... Where ships - away no air space around that really quite unusual ... especially on the left ...
And what about the Indian - he cleaned it right : a large and exotic species figure pulls the attention ... But he put it right : for him " equilibrium " of the masses needed some amount of pictures in this place . Then he apparently changed composition ...