Home
 The Madonnas of Raphael Scott 1495-1496 (2012) On March 1, 2012, Vatican City issued two stamps and two mini-sheets or leaflets featuring two magnificent depictions of the Blessed Mother by the great Renaissance artist, Rafael (Raffaello Sanzio). The two paintings were likely produced by Rafael at the same time and probably stood side-by-side in his Urbino studio.  The Madonna of Foligno Scott 1497 (2012) The Madonna of Foligno is featured on the 1.40-euro leaflet, with a 0.60-euro stamp featuring a detail of the Madonna and Child. This painting is currently housed at the Pinacoteca at the Vatican. The masterpiece was commissioned by Sigismondo de’ Conti, secretary to Pope Julius II, and it was originally designed as an altarpiece for the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome. The painting shows the Madonna, along with Saint Francis, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Jerome, along with the donor, Sigismondo de’ Conti.  The Sistine Madonna Scott 1498 (2012) The Sistine Madonna is featured on the 2.40-euro minisheet, with the 0.75-euro stamp again featuring a detail of the Madonna and Child. This painting is currently located in Dresden, Germany, at the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery). The masterpiece was likely commissioned by Pope Julius II around the same time as the Madonna of Foligno and was originally produced for the Church of Saint Sixtus in Piacenza. This version of the Madonna includes Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara. It also includes the depiction of two angels at the bottom center of the work. The tiny angels, sometimes referred to as the “angelic brothers”, are often reproduced in commercial art. In addition, they appeared on United States “Love” stamps released in 1995. The two paintings were first displayed in Foligno and Piacenza. Amazingly, they were not well regarded and were eventually relocated to the papal court and to Germany, where they reside today. The two paintings, as well as the two cherubic angels, are now iconic images. The 2.40-euro Sistine Madonna leaflet was part of a joint issue with Germany. REFERENCES: |
