The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck - Washington, DC
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 38° 53.461 W 077° 01.249
18S E 324738 N 4306623
The Archangel Gabriel, a detail from this 15th-century painting in the National Gallery, appears on the 1968 U.S. Christmas stamp.
Waymark Code: WM1C3Q0
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 05/28/2025
Views: 1
Jan van Eyck was an early 15th-century Flemish artist who is said to have invented oil painting. This incredibly detailed painting dates from 1434-36 and, due to its size and dimensions, was probably once part of a triptych altarpiece. It depicts the angel Gabriel appearing before Mary in a temple-like setting. All elements of the painting are rich in detail, including the clothing, windows, columns and even the floor.
This painting was once purchased by the Tsar of Russia and housed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg where it was transferred from its original wood panel to canvas (a practice that was not unusual at that time). Though on a list of paintings that should never be sold, it was nevertheless sold by Stalin’s government in 1930 and wound up in the personal collection of Andrew Mellon. Mellon’s collection, of course, became the basis for the National Gallery in Washington, DC, where hangs today.
Stamp Issuing Country: United States
Date of Issue: 1-Nov-1968
Denomination: 6c
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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