Bhutan anniversary of Titian revised painting

 

Vanus and a certain organ player certainly do ger around! In addition to this painting, there is a similar work, on a slightly smaller scale. Differences in details abound, soon too many to enumerate. The present stamp is unusual in that it seems to an unlikely figure in the larger scope of the painting; but we thereby ger a nice, detailed look at the organ. There is still not enough information to know any details about the instrument. 

Art Work, 1997 Gambia

 

This set of stamps slipped past me to a while. I didn't realize if was around for a couple of years. The set us notable for the fact that two organ related stamps are part of the sets. The stamps are reproductions of paintings by various artists. "Angel playing the organ" and "The Graham children" both include representations of organs. Six of the stamps have fairly standard formats. The Hogarth stamp is slightly larger than usual.  My caroler has misidentified the two larger stamps. One is by Lepicie the by Hogarty. Cats feature on the two single-stamp panes. 

Poland: Veit Stoss carvings

 

Veit Stoss was a German-born sculptor living in Krakow, Poland in a period spanning the Gothic and Northern Renaissance eras. Some of his most important work is found at St Mary's Basilica in that city. The altarpiece is the largest in the world and was created between 1477 and 1489. Poland commemorated this masterpiece with a set of six stamps (Scott #925-930) plus a miniature sheet (#931) in 1960. The six stamps show details from the altarpiece; the sheet-stamp shows the central panel. The altarpiece is about 13 meters tall and 11 wide. There are 3 panels on each side of the triptych design, and a larger central panel. Each is painted wood. On the center panel in the middle left is an angel playing a portatif organ. The angel is shown with robes of gold and green, and wings of gold. The stamp is essentially in black, but the angel and the organ are still visible. 

Antigua: Bach anniversary

The island nation of Antigua (also Antigua and Barbuda)  issued this miniature sheet (Scott 2339) of a single stamp in 26 June 2000, presumably for the 250th anniversary of the death of JS Bach. The sheet  shows the Bach statue which is located outside the St Thomas Church in Leipzig Germany. The background is a music image denoted BMV 900. One assumes that should read "BWV" the generally used cataloging nomenclature for Bach works. It's a piano prelude and fugue. Bach was of course music director and teacher at the St Thomas church and school from 1723 until his death. The statue was erected in 1908, built by Carl Seffner. The composer is at the forefront of the statue but behind him is a representation of a pipe organ. It's not very clear on the stamp, but the image below makes it quite clear. Antigua was identified as part of the Leeward Islands for some time; it became a crown colony in 1956 and an Associated State in 1967. It gained independence in 1981 and took the name Antigua and Barbuda.

Venezuela, Christmas angels

Venezuela issued this stamp in 1967 as part of a set for Christmas. It features a reproduction of Stephan Lochner's La Virgen del Rosal (Virgin in a rose arbor). The original painting hangs in the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne, Germany. Painted in 1450, it is a small work, suited for personal or home devotional use. Angels surround the central figure, and each holding musical instruments. Almost obscured by the denomination, the angel at LL is holding a portativ. This angel and its instrument are quite clear in the image of the original painting. This stamp (Scot C976) was for airmail postage.

Aitutaki: Christmas, angels

The island nation of Aitutaki (part of the Cook Island archipelago in the South Pacific) issued a set of 8 stamps in 1994 for Christmas featuring various religious paintings. Two sets of four stamps were denominated 85c and 90c. They featured various representations of the birth of Jesus: Mary, magi, angels, etc. These stamps saw little postal use and are generally collected as attached blocks of four stamps. On the 85c block, the UR stamp (Scott 508b) shows angels on the perimeter, holding musical instruments. One of the angels is holding a portativ organ. Memling painted several versions of the nativity story on various commissions. This particular painting is known as the Donne Triptych and is at the National Gallery, London, UK. It was completed in 1478.

Cambodia (Kampuchea): St Cecilia

Cambodia issued a set of 7 stamps plus a mini-sheet of one additional stamp in 1985, celebrating the international music year. The stamps are basic representations of art works that feature music and musical instruments. The 2 riel stamp (Scott 607) is "St Cecilia" by Bartolomeo Schedoni (1578-1615). On the left edge of the stamp, behind the saint's right shoulder is a small, anonymous positif organ. The saint's left hand is passing in front of her body and reaching for the keys of the instrument. An winged angel is at her left shoulder. In front of Cecilia are a lute and tambourine. Beneath her foot seems to be another stringed instrument. Schedoni painted this oil on canvas work in 1610. The work now hangs in the Galleria Nazionale di Capidimonte in Naples, Italy.

DDR: Handel

The DDR issued a pair of stamps honoring Handel on 27 April, 1959, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer's death. Handel was born in Halle, Germany which between the end of World War II and reunification, was situated in East Germany. The 10pf green stamp shows a statue of Handel from Halle. The 20pf red stamp shows the composer as depicted by Thomas Hudson in a painting of 1748. There is nothing particularly organ-related about the stamps, other than the fact that Handel composed for the instrument, and was a proficient player.

Religious Music Festival (Spain)

This stamp commemorates a religious music festival in Cuenca, Spain. It seems the event has been going on for more than 50 years. I say "seems" because while their website is full of event information, there is very little information about the history of the event or who sponsors it. Being in Spain, I would assume it spring out of the Catholic hierarchy, but I really cant' tell. The event began in 1962; this stamp was issued in 1986, so perhaps it was a 25th anniversary commemoration. The stamp shows a stylized organ facade, and indeed, there are a few instruments to be found in the photo gallery of the website. The facade does not seem to depict a specific instrument. Scott 2472 was issued March 26, 1986, with a denomination of 17 pesetas.

Vatican: bas-reliefs

In 1966 Vatican City issued a set of 12 stamps. These were all images of bas-relief carvings found in the private chapel of the Pope. The first of the set of 12 is a carving of Pope Paul VI, done by Enrico Manfrini. The other (artists and craftsmen) carvings were executed by Mario Rudelli; they are found on a chair in the chapel. Each of the stamps is a different color. The stamps depict: organist; painter; cartographer; sculptor; bricklayer; printer; farmer; blacksmith; scholar. The organist is seated at a positiv organ, which is equipped with a built-in stand. The organ seems to have a single set of pipes. The organist stamp (Scott 424) is part of a set that includes the regular issues named above, plus two special delivery stamps showing the pope and the papal arms (Scott E17-E18).