Christian Articles Archive

Madonna and Child, St. Mary
Christmas Postage Stamps

collected by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

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Sandro Botticelli, "Virgin and Child with Angel" (c. 1475), Chicago Institute of Art, Christmas stamp 1981. Larger image.

Here are several pages of link to Christmas art, paintings, and stamps:

Madonna and Child

Andrea Mantegna. Madonna with Sleeping Child. (c. 1465-70), Oil on canvas. 43x32 cm. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany.

Raphael, The Alba Modonna (1510), oil on panel transferred to canvas, diameter 94.5. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Round, beautiful Madonna with Jesus in her lap, and John the Baptist in animal skins looking up at him.

Jacopo Carucci "Pontormo" (1495-1556-57). Madona and child, Oil on canvas, 88x64 cm, Museo Nacional de San Carlos

Giovanni Ballini, Madonna and Child, 1485-1490

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Adolphe Jourdan (1825-89), Madonna and Child, Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling, Scotland. Another.

Fra Angelico, The Madonna of Humility, Mellon collection, Washington, D. C

Sandro Botticelli (1446-1510)

William Bouguereau, Virgin and Chld (1888)
Adolphe-William Bouguereau (French artist, 1825-1905), "Virgin and Child" (1888), oil on canvas, 176.5x103 cm, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Adolphe-William Bouguereau (French Academic painter, 1825-1905)

Frantisek Tkadlik, The Virgin and Child with Distaff, (1822), Prague.

Henry Ossawa Tanner, Mary (1900), oil on canvas, LaSalle University Art Museum, Philadelphia. Mary looking at newborn son, concealed under a blanket.

Louis S. Glanzman (1922- ), Mary, the Mother of God and Mary in Women of the Bible series. Mixed medium on artboard.

Morgan Weistling (California illustrator and painter, 1964- ), "Kissing the Face of God" (1998). Mary holding the baby Jesus, kissing him on the cheek. Amazing image of mother-love.

The Black Madonna of Częstochowa or Our Lady of Częstochowa (Czarna Madonna or Matka Boska Częstochowska in Polish, Imago thaumaturga Beatae Virginis Mariae Immaculatae Conceptae, in Claro Monte in Latin, Ченстоховская икона Божией Матери in Church Slavonic), Poland's holiest relic, one of the country's national symbols. It is attributed to St. Luke, who is reputed to have painted it on a cypress table top from the house of the Holy Family.

The World's Great Madonnas.

USPS Traditional Christmas Stamps

Most of the traditional Christmas stamps since 1965 include a Madonna and Child painting found in a US museum, but most are by Old World masters.

2016-17. Nativity, designed by Greg Breeding, with original art by Nancy Stahl.
2016-17. Nativity, designed by Greg Breeding, with original art by Nancy Stahl.
  • 2020. Our Lady of Guapulo (18th century), unknown artist from Cuzco, Peru, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.
  • 2018. Bachiacca, "Madonna and Child" (early 1520s), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.
  • 2016-17. Nativity, designed by Greg Breeding, with original art by Nancy Stahl.
  • 2016. "Florentine Madonna and Child" (1470), tempera on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.
  • 2014, Christmas Magi Stamp, designed by Greg Breeding.
  • 2013. Jan Gossaert, "Virgin and Child" (1531), Cleveland Museum.
  • 2011-12. Raphael, "Madonna of the Candelabra" (1513), tondo (circular painting), oil on panel, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
  • 2010, Angel with Lute stamp, designated a special stamp, not an official Christmas stamp. The 2009 Christmas stamp will be used again in 2010.
  • 2009-2010. Giovanni Battista Salvi (1609-1685), also known as Sassoferatto, "Madonna and Sleeping Child," Hearst Castle, California.
  • 2008. Workshop of Sandro Botticelli, "Virgin and Child with the Young John the Baptist'' (c. 1490), Cleveland Museum of Art. Round painting.
  • 2007. Bernardino Luini (1470-1530), "Madonna of the Carnation (1515), National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Larger.
  • 2006. Ignatio Chacón (Peruvian artist active 1745-1775), Madonna and Child with Bird (1765), Denver Art Museum. Traditional Christmas stamp 2006 for the US Postal Service.
  • 2005. Bernardino Luini (c. 1480-1532) , The Madonna of the Carnation (c. 1515), National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 2005.
  • 2004. Lorenzo Monaco (c. 1370-1425), "Madonna and Child" (), National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 2004.
  • 2002, 2003. Jan Gossaert (c. 1478-1533/36), Madonna and Child (c. 1520), Art Institute of Chicago, Christmas stamp 2002.
  • 2001. Lorenzo Costa (1460-1535), "Virgin and Child" (detail, c. 1490), Philadelphia Museum of Art. Christmas stamp 2001.
  • 1999. Bartolomeo Vivarini (1432-1499), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1999.
  • 1998. Florentine (15th century), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1998.
  • 1997. Sano di Pietro (1406-1481), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1997.
  • 1996. Paolo de Matteis (1662-1728), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1996.
  • 1995. Giotto, Madonna and Child (), National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1995.
  • 1994. Elisabeth Sirani (1638-1665), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1994.
  • 1993. Giovanni Battista Cima (1459-1518), Madonna and Child. Christmas stamp 1993.
  • 1991. Antoniazzo Romano (1461-1508), Madonna and Child, Houston Museum. Christmas stamp 1991.
  • Botticelli, Madonna and Child, Christmas stamp 1983.
    Sandro Botticelli, Madonna and Child (c. 1470), National Gallery, 1988 Christmas stamp. Original painting.    		  
    1990. Antonello Da Messina (1430-1479), Madonna and Child, National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1990.
  • 1989. Carracci (1555-1619), Madonna and Child, National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1989.
  • 1988. Botticelli (1446-1510), Madonna and Child (c. 1470), tempera on panel, 74.5 x 54.5 cm,  National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1983.
  • 1987. Giovanni Battista Moroni (ca. 1522-1578), Madonna and Child, National Gallery of Art, Christmas stamp 1987.
  • 1986. Pietro Vanucci Perugino, Madonna and Child, National Gallery of Art, Christmas stamp 1986.
  • 1985. Luca della Robbia (1400-1482), Genoa Madonna enameled terra cotta, Detroit Institute of Arts, Christmas stamp 1985.
  • 1984. Fra Filippo Lippi (1406-1469), Madonna and Child (1440-1445) Tempera on panel, 79,7 x 51,1 cm, National Gallery of Art.
  • 1983. Raphaël (1483-1520), Virgin and Child, Naitonal Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1983.
  • 1982. Tiepolo (1696-1770), Madonna and Child, National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1982.
  • 1981. Sandro Botticelli (1446-1510), Virgin and Child with Angel (Small Madonna) (1475-1485), Tempera on panel, Institute of Art, Chicago. Christmas stamp 1981.
  • 1980. Walter Tower, Epiphany window (c. 1900), Stained glass window in the National Cathedral, Washington, Christmas stamp 1980.
  • 1979. Gerard David (1460-1523), Virgin and Child, National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1979.
  • 1978. Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525), Madonna and Child with Cherubim, National Gallery, Christmas stamp1978.
  • 1977. J.C. Leyendecker, George Washington Praying at Valley Forge, Christmas stamp 1977, which originally appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, Feb 23, 1935. This was also the subject of the 1928 2 cent stamp, captioned "In God We Trust."
  • 1976. John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), "Nativity" (1776).
  • 1968 Christmas stamp, Jan van Eyck, The Annunciation (angel detail)
    Angel detail from Jan Van Eyck, "The Annunciation," 1968 Christmas stamp. Larger stamp image. Original.     		 
    1975. Domenico Ghirlandaio, "Madonna and Child" National Gallery. Christmas Stamp 1975. 1974 was the Dove of Peac weathervane atop Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, the first pressure sensitive adhestive stamp ever issued.
  • 1973. Raphaël (1483-1520), Small Cowper Madonna (1505), National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1973.
  • 1972. Master of the St. Lucy Legend (unknown Flemish master), Detail of angel in "Mary, Queen of Heaven" (1480), National Gallery of Art. Angel. Christmas stamp 1972.
  • 1971. Giorgione (1477-1510) Adoration of the Shepherds, National Gallery of Art.
  • 1970. Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556), The Nativity, National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1970. The 1969 stamp was a Curier and Ives scene.
  • 1968. Jan Van Eyck (c. 1390-1441), Angel Gabriel (detail) from "The Annunciation," National Gallery of Art. Christmas stamp 1968.
  • 1965 Angel Stamp
    The 1965 Christmas stamp had a more secular theme. In later years there was nearly always a clearly religious stamp, usually with the Madonna and Child.
    1966, 1967. Memling, Madonna and Child (), National Gallery of Art. Christams stamp 1967 (taller commemorative size). Also another Memling 1966 (standard stamp size, cropped more at bottom). Prior to 1966, Christmas commemorative stamps didn't have a religious theme.

Christmas Stamps from other Countries

Gibraltar 2007 features beautiful photographs of six porcelain nativity figures.

Canada Post

Collections

Christian Art and Paintings: Abraham Art | Agnus Dei Art | Angel Art | Annunciation Art | Celtic Stone Cross Art | Christian Symbols and Art | Christmas Art | David |  Easter Art | Elijah | Passion of Christ by Tissot | Gideon | Hebrew-Jewish Art | Holy Week Art | Jacob | Jesus' Ministry Art | Jesus' Teaching Art | Jesus Portraits and Art | John the Baptist | John the Apostle | Lamb of God Art | Last Supper Art | Madonna & Child Art | Moses and the Exodus | Names of God Art | OT Misc Art | Psalms Art | Palm Sunday Art | Paul Art and Paintings | Day of Pentecost Art | Peter Art and Paintings | Prayer Art | Resurrection Art | Revelation Art | Solomon |Thanksgiving and Pilgrims Art | Timothy Art and Paintings
Copyright of artwork. Much, but not all, of the artwork linked to on this site is in the public domain worldwide due to the date of death of its author (if it is was published outside of the U.S. and the author has been dead for over 70 years), or due to its date of publication (if it was first made public in the U.S. before 1923), at least in the United States (see Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp.), in Germany, and in many other countries.

Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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