The Holy Family with A Shepherd by Titian

Holy Family with a Shepherd (1510) by Titian (1490-1576)
New Zealand 2d Stamp Issued 1963
National Gallery, London

New Zealand postal authorities selected a third painting from the National Gallery in London for inclusion in the Christmas stamps during the 1960s.  This one was in a larger format to do justice to the larger size of the underlying oil on canvas painting by Titian.  A shepherd is in adoration of the Madonna and child.  

Other Titian works that have been used in stamps:

Venus in a Mirror (1555)

St Mary Magdalene (1535)

Marc Chagall - Fiances of the Eiffel Tower

Marc Chagall (1887-1985) - Fiances of the Eiffel Tower (1939)

France Stamp Issued 1963

France has issued a large number of art based stamps, and this is one of the earliest releases for a modern 20th Century artist.  


Russian-French Artist Marc Chagall has been described by Robert Hughes as the quintessential Jewish artist of the 20th Century and the last surviving pioneer of the modernist movement.   


This painting is one of Chagall's dream like works, with an almost surreal quality.  The artists lived a long life, creating a prolific variety of work.