Putin painting auctioned for over $1 million

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - January 17, 2009 Putin's picture of a frost-rimed window in a traditional log hut was among artworks by well-known Russians from various walks of life that were auctioned Saturday to raise money for a hospital, a church and a cancer clinic in the city.

Moscow gallery owner Natalya Kurnikova snapped the painting up for 37 million rubles ($1.1 million). She said she bought it because it could be the first and last painting of its kind.

Putin's painting brought in more than any of the others on auction. A painting by opera singer Anna Netrebko fetched 1.1 million rubles ($34,000).