Magyar Posta is celebrating Christianity’s most important feast, Easter, by issuing a definitive stamp. This year the self- adhesive stamp with no value indication bearing the inscription “Domestic” and the first day cover show a detail of the painting by Alvaro Pirez Risen Christ. The stamp was designed by the graphic artist Barnabás Baticz and produced at Codex Értékpapírnyomda Zrt..
Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ, the redemption of man. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross on Friday and on the third day, Sunday, he rose again from the dead. As he died sinless, God forgave mankind all their sins, in other words Christ triumphed over death through resurrection. Christ’s sacrifice, his crucifixion and resurrection, has inspired countless artists.
Alvaro Pirez (Alvaro Pirez d’Évora), the first known Portuguese painter, was born before 1411 and died after 1434. He is known for his religious paintings. His work was characterised by striking colours, which is also conspicuous in the detail of his painting Risen Christ appearing on the Easter stamp. As a special feature of the stamp, the halo of Christ shines under UV light.
On the first day cover a larger area of the painting is shown and the special postmark is a graphic transcription of the hand gesture depicted in the painting.
