Raphael Madonna of the Candelabra Christmas Stamp 2021
The U.S. Postal Service selected a detail from Raphael’s Madonna of the Candelabra for its 2011 traditional Christmas stamp, featuring the Madonna and Child from the celebrated Renaissance painting.
Born Raffaello Sanzio in Urbino in 1483, Raphael showed exceptional artistic ability from an early age. He later traveled to Florence, where he studied the work of masters such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. In 1508, Pope Julius II invited him to Rome, beginning the most productive period of his career.
Painted around 1513, Madonna of the Candelabra is a circular oil painting on wood. The original is part of the collection of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Raphael operated a busy workshop, and assistants are believed to have contributed to portions of the original artwork.
The Christmas stamp is issued as a booklet of 20 self-adhesive Forever stamps. Each Forever stamp remains valid for the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.
