Christmas stamps celebrate stained-glass art
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
The impact of the Pre-Raphaelite movement on church stained- glass windows is to be celebrated in Christmas stamps issued by the Royal Mail this year, it was announced today.
Madonna And Child, by Pre-Raphaelite artist Henry Holiday, taken from a stained-glass window in the Church of Ormesby St Michael, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, features on the first-class stamp.
The second-class stamp, Angel, is taken from a stained-glass window designed by celebrated 19th century artist William Morris, in the Church of St James at Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria.
A further two stamps taken from stained-glass windows by Holiday also feature in the collection - the 56p, Joseph, taken from the Parish Church of St Michael in Minehead, Somerset, and the £1.35, Shepherd, taken from a window at St Mary's Upavon, Wiltshire.
The 90p stamp, Wise Man, is taken from a stained-glass window design by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones, from the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Rye, East Sussex.
The issue comes after a revival of interest in the Pre-Raphaelite movement, brought about partly by series such as the BBC's Desperate Romantics and a major exhibition earlier this year on artist John William Waterhouse at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said its policy for Christmas stamps is to alternate religious and secular themes.
But last year it broke with tradition to feature both religious and secular images in its Christmas stamp collection.
* The Christmas stamps go on sale today.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments