Why the Stamp Was Issued:
This stamp was issued to honor traditional religious figures associated with Christmas, particularly through the depiction of classic Virgin and Child artwork.
About the Stamp Design:
The stamp showcases a 16th-century oil painting created by a Florentine artist known as the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation. The artwork reflects the reverence and skill of Renaissance art, offering a timeless representation of the Virgin and Child.
First Day City:
The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, which houses the original painting featured on the stamp.
About the Traditional Christmas Series:
The United States Post Office introduced the Traditional Christmas stamp series in 1966, beginning with a Madonna and Child painting by Flemish artist Hans Memling. The inaugural stamp was immensely popular, with over 1.1 billion printed. Encouraged by this success, the Post Office issued another traditional Christmas stamp in 1968, depicting the Angel Gabriel. Starting in 1970, the Post Office began issuing both a Traditional and a Contemporary Christmas stamp each year, a tradition that continues today.
History the Stamp Represents:
This stamp celebrates the rich history of holiday stamps featuring Virgin and Child paintings. The 2022 stamp depicts an artwork by the Master of the Scandicci Lamentation, a 16th-century Florentine artist. The original painting, now housed in Boston??s Museum of Fine Arts, exemplifies Renaissance artistry and religious symbolism.
The Virgin and Child artwork follows the stylistic traditions of its time. The Virgin Mary is dressed in a red gown and blue mantle??colors symbolizing her purity, royalty, and status as the mother of Christ. During the Renaissance, blue paint was made from the precious stone lapis lazuli, imported from Afghanistan, and reserved for the most significant figures in art.
This particular painting has a storied history. Once owned by the prestigious Tempi family, it was later acquired by Italian painter and dealer Emilio Costantini in 1906. Over the years, it changed hands several times before being bequeathed to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston by Mrs. Robert Dawson Evans.
The Virgin and Child painting featured on the stamp is not only a piece of religious and artistic heritage but also a testament to the enduring beauty and skill of Italian Renaissance painters.
