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.   

Prospero Fantana - Holy Family with St Jerome

Prospero Fontana - Holy Family with St Jerome, a female martyr and the infant St John the Baptist (1552)

Australia 28c Stamp issued 1980

Held in the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia

This impressive painting is thought to have been completed by Fontana while employed by Pope Julius III in the 1550s.  The artist had a long career in his native Bologna, Genoa, Florence and Rome.  The painting's figures are closely embraced to each other and interacting in a very personal manner.

St Jerome is also depicted in this painting, probably because he was responsible for the establishment of a hospice in Bethlehem in the 4th Century, in order to welcome pilgrams to the holy land.  He got up to quite a bit during his life, being fully devoted to the church.  He is also known for translating the bible into Latin.

Justin O'Brien - Virgin Enthroned

Justin O'Brien (1917-1996) - Virgin Enthroned (1951)

Australia 15c Stamp issued 1980

Painting Held at the Art Gallery of NSW

Justin O'Brien was born in south western Sydney in an Irish Catholic family, thus explaining the religious nature of art that was depicted in this stamp for Christmas 1980.  His art was the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW in 2011.  The artist was a prolific producer of art during his career, in addition to spending time as a teacher in Sydney prior to heading off to Rome in the latter period of his life.

Louis Le Nain - Adoration of the Shepherds

Louis le Nain (1593-1648) - Adoration of the Shepherds (circa 1640)

Great Britain Stamp issued 1967

Held at the UK National Gallery 

 Louis le Nain was one of three brothers who were famous for depicting common scenes from peasant life, during a time when many artists were painting scenes of excessive richness and plentitude in other parts of Europe.  This religious scene made it to a Christmas stamp in the UK in 1967.

The Annunciation - Artist Unknown (Savoy School France)

Unknown Artist from the Savoy School (1480) - "The Annunciation"

France Stamp issued 1970 - 1 Franc

This stamp depicts a favourite scene from renaissance artists, being the annuniciation, or otherwise known as the time when the angel Gabriel came on down to earth to let Mary know that she was going to have a little baby Jesus.  

St John the Baptist - Artist Unknown

St John the Baptist - Artist Unknown (1592)

Bulgarian Stamp Issued 1988

This is one of two stamps issued to depict two cultural icons from the municipality of Kardzhali in south western Bulgaria in 1988.  

Heritage of Kardzhali (Bulgaria) - St George Slaying the Dragon

St George Slaying the Dragon - A Painting from 1841 (Artist Unknown)

8cm Bulgaria Stamp Issued 1988

This stamp was issued in Bulgaria in 1988, as one of two stamps depicting paintings of historical significance in the Kardzhali region of south east Bulgaria.