Art & Paintings On Stamps

KirkS - Thanks! Believe me, I'm hardly an art expert. But I do like art a lot, and I also enjoy looking stuff up. And much of the little I do know about art I have learned through stamp collecting.

Sesshu Toyo (aka Oda Toyo, 1420-1506) was the foremost Japanese master of ink and wash painting from the middle Muromachi period. Here is an image of a stamp commemorating Sesshu Toyo, designed by A. Zavialov, printed by photogravure, and issued by Russia (USSR) on October 17, 1956, Scott No. 1876, Zagorski No. 1863, plus images of a 16th century copy of Sesshu Toyo's 1491 self-portrait, which was probably a model for this stamp's design, and of a detail from Sesshu Toyo's painting Sansui Chokan ("Long Landscape Scroll," 1486), which is considered his masterpiece.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp designed by Pierre Gandon after a painting entitled Le 14 Juillet ("The 14th of July," 1914) by French cubist painter Roger de La Fresnaye (1885-1925), engraved by René Cottet, and issued by France on November 10, 1961, Scott No. 1017, Y&T No. 1322, plus an image of the original work of art.

- nethryk

Here is an image of a stamp depicting a mother and child, designed and engraved by Alceo Quieti after a detail from a ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel entitled "The Flood" (dated 1508-1512), by Italian artist Michelangelo (1475-1564), and issued by Italy on April 18, 1975 as one of three stamps in a set commemorating the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth, Scott No. 1182, plus an image of the relevant detail from the fresco.

- nethryk

alan - Thanks! Please do share with us some examples of Indian art on stamps.

Here are images of the four stamps in a set depicting carved wood sculptures in the National Museum, Ouagadougou, designed and engraved by Georges Bétemps, and issued by Burkina Faso (Upper Volta) on March 5, 1970, Scott Nos. 207-10.

- nethryk

Niadale mask


Niaga mask


Iliu Bara woman and man


Karan Weeba figure

Happy Birthday to Czech sculptor Jan Štursa (1880-1925). Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the artist, designed by Czech artist Max Švabinský (1873-1962), engraved by Jindra Schmidt (1897-1984), and issued by Czechoslovakia on July 2, 1955, Scott No. 700, plus a photo of Jan Štursa in his studio in 1915.

- nethryk

Indian miniature paintings on stamps. Issued on 5th May 1973 SC 577-80.




20p stamp shows Radha-Kishangarh, by Nihal Chand 1778



50p, Dancing Couple late 17th century.


1r, Lovers on a Camel, by Nasir-ud-Din, c. 1605.




2r, Chained Elephant by Zain-al-Abidin, 16th century