Saturday, August 18, 2018

Panama: Music paintings

The central American nation of Panama issued a set of 6 stamps in 1968 depicting paintings of musicians and musical instruments. They were issued as a sheet of 6 (Scott 488, a, b, c, d, e, f). There was also issued a souvenir sheet (Scott 488A) of a single stamp ("Harp" by Memling). I have the set of 6 stamps, unattached. This painting, "Allegory of Music," was painted by Laurent de la Hyre in 1649 for a home in Paris. It now is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, USA. The central portion of the painting (oil on canvas) is the allegorical figure of Music tuning a theorbo. Various other instruments are included, and musical scores. In the background is a portion of an organ facade. This was one of a set of seven paintings of the Liberal Arts executed by de la Hyre.


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