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<img height='300' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/cms/images/IMG_6877s.jpg'>    
<img height='300' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/cms/images/IMG_6877s1.jpg'> 
The Annunciation by Donatello The Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence
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March 25th is listed on the Church calendar as the Feast of the Annunciation. For Vatican stamp collectors, it is easy to picture the image of the Archangel Gabriel announcing the message God sends Mary on this day. There are a number of Vatican stamps depicting the Annunciation.
 
There is, however, another image that the Vatican Post Office has yet to use that would make a terrific stamp for this feast day. My stamp nomination can be found at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy. It is Donatello's sculpture The Annunciation, which is pictured at the top of this article.
 
Here, Mary is portrayed as being in prayer, hesitant and somewhat alarmed by the angel. Donatello's sculpture shows an angel with wings, a portrayal that matches the magnificence of any of Fra Angelico's angels. Donatello makes this scene one of simplicity in form but complexity in subject. This sculpture would simply make an excellent stamp.
 
Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi (c. 1386 – 13 December 1466), better known as Donatello, was a master sculptor of the Renaissance period. He did a little work with his friend Brunelleschi at the Vatican, but spent most of his years outside Rome. Perhaps this is why the postal officials have yet to recognize his work.
 
Photographs are from the photo collection of Marvin Lanahan.

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