LX1185. Christmas, 1983

Raphaël (1483-1520)

Raffaello Santi, known as Raphael, or Raphael of Urbino, was born in Urbino on Good Friday 6 April 1483, the son of Magia di Battista di Nicola Ciarla and Giovanni Santi di Pietro. His father was a painter and poet at the court of Frederico da Montefeltre, one of the most famous princes and art patrons of Early Renaissance Italy. Raphael's father was not an outstanding painter, though he was a man of good sense. Raphael started helping out in Santi's studio at a very early age. It is believed that Raphael learnt the fundamentals of art in his father's studio. But it is still unclear where Raphael received his training after this early period in his father's workshop, as Giovanni Santi died in 1494.

This luxury sheet was made after: Madonna del Granduca. c.1505. Oil on panel. Palazzo Pitti, Galleria Palatina, Florence, Italy.

Date of issue: 19 December 1983

Design: after Raphaël (1483-1520)

Printing & editor: Rodan, Brussels

Size engraving: 30 x 34 mm.

Circulation: limited edition between 400 and 700*

* These etching where printed on a double folded mould-made paper sheet, on the inside the Christmas wishes were written or printed (see underneath an example). Some people kept the left side of this card, which made the “luxury sheet”; it goes without saying that the majority many were lost or damaged in the mail.

LX1185. Imperforated luxury sheet, dark pink/brown. 200F

Etching on mould-made paper

Text on back:

There are no variations or curiosities known for none of the above shown material.