Art on a Stamp III - Strip of 4 National Stamps

On June 19, we release the third and final phase of our 10th
Definitive stamp series, Art on a Stamp. This series was
intended as a celebration of 100 years of Irish stamp art, one
element of An Post’s contribution to the Decade of Centenaries,
focusing on the importance of Irish stamps to our sovereignty.
It features some of the most highly regarded Irish artists and
designers working in the state since its inception in 1922, 
working in diverse media and social-historical contexts.

This set features art by:

Richard J King, a renowned stained-glass artist and illustrator,
hailing from Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Our stamp shows his
illustrative work, firmly rooted in both the neo-Celtic designs
that were so fundamental to Irish cultural nationalism in the
years of early independence, and in art deco, with stylistic
references to artists of international acclaim, such as Alphonse
Mucha. Between 1933 and 1949, King also designed a number
of postage stamps for An Post.

FE McWilliam, a Northern Irish artist whose strange, evocative,
and moving interpretations of the human form were an
important contribution to mid-twentieth century Irish art. Many
of his works, at times reminiscent of sculptures by contemporary
Henry Moore, are displayed in public places.

Highlighting Irish fashion, our third stamp in this series features
stunning designs by Lainey Keogh and John Rocha, whose
work in this field has put Ireland on the map, while highlighting
the importance of art to our everyday experience, extending to
the colour, shape and form of clothes we wear.

Stephen McKenna spent much of his working life in counties
Donegal and Carlow. He is noted for his renditions of domestic
scenes, which appear at one and the same time to be intimate
yet eerie, familiar but strange. McKenna became an associate
member of the RHA in 2001, a full member in 2002 and was the 
president of this association from 2005 till 2009.

Product code 25DL