Italy 1974 Art – Famous Artists – FDC complete set
In 1974, Italy continued its prestigious “Arte Italiana” (Italian Art) definitive and commemorative series, focusing on world-renowned painters and architects. These stamps are highly prized by collectors for their classical aesthetics and fine line-engraving.
1974 Famous Artists & Masters Set
Released in November 1974, this specific set (often identified as Scott #1123–1127) commemorates five iconic figures of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods.
| Artist / Subject | Notable Work Featured | Value |
| Raphael | Self-portrait / High Renaissance | 40 L |
| Andrea Mantegna | Portrait / Early Renaissance | 50 L |
| Giovanni Bellini | Portrait / Venetian School | 90 L |
| Rosalba Carriera | Self-portrait / Rococo Pastel | 100 L |
| Francesco Borromini | Architecture / Roman Baroque | 150 L |
FDC (First Day Cover) Details
A complete FDC set for this 1974 issue usually consists of one or two envelopes featuring all five stamps.
- Official Postmarks: The covers are typically cancelled with a special “Giorno di Emissione” (Day of Issue) circular date stamp, often from Rome or the artists’ birthplaces.
- Cachet Designs: Popular cachets include the “Golden Series” (Serie Oro) or “Venetia”, which often feature gold-leaf borders or high-quality reproductions of the artists’ paintings on the left side of the envelope.
Other Art-Related Issues of 1974
In addition to the “Famous Painters” set, Italy released other art-themed stamps in 1974 that you might find on FDCs:
- Norman Art in Sicily: Two stamps (8th and 9th centuries) featuring the mosaics of Monreale and the Martorana.
- Jacopo della Quercia: A single stamp commemorating the sculptor of the Fonte Gaia.
- Giorgio Vasari: A 400th-anniversary commemorative stamp honoring the author of The Lives of the Artists.
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