Giovanni Toscani - Adoration of the Magi - Part 3 Detail

Australia 45c Stamp Issued 1994

Painting Held at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

This is one of many works of Toscani that were produced on wooden panels in the "cassone" style.  The panels were originally decorated to be included in wooden chests or boes for newly married couples.  

Three stamps were sourced from detailed reliefs of Tosacani's painting which is held at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Toscani - Adoration of the Magi - Part 2

Giovanni Toscani - Adoration of the Magi

Australia $1 Stamp Issued 1994 Christmas

Painting Held at the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia

This stamp is one of three stamps that was produced from the "Adoration of the Magi" painting that is held at the National Gallery of Victoria.  Another stamp has been previously posted as part of this series on this blog.


This painting was produced sometime between 1420 and 1430.  The painting is one of many artworks that have been purchased through the Felton Request, which was established in 1904 when Alfred Felton died, leaving a fortune of 190,000 pounds.  Felton stipulated that half of the interest earned on the bequest would be used to purchase artworks for the NGV - the gallery has managed to purchase numerous works that are valued over a billion dollars now, as many purchases were made prior to the large increase in art work prices in the 1950s.   

Toscani - Adoration of the Magi

Giovanni Toscani (1372-1430) - Adoration of the Magi

Australian Stamp issued 1994, Painted Early 1400s
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Toscani completed this work during the growth of the Renaissance in Florence, well before more famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci would rise to fame.  Toscani was a pupil of the early Italian painter Giottino, who was known for completing many famous frescos in the churches around Florence.