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The U.S. Postal Service has selected a painting from the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields for its annual Christmas stamp, marking the first time a work from this museum has been featured. The chosen artwork, "Madonna and Child," originates from the workshop of 17th-century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato and has been part of the museum's collection since 1938.
Belinda Tate, director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, expressed honor at the selection: “This selection brings a beloved piece from our collection to a broad audience, allowing us to celebrate its beauty, historical significance and the spirit of the season.” The USPS plans to produce 210 million stamps featuring this image.
The USPS requested a high-resolution digital image of the painting in February 2023 as part of its confidential selection process. The museum only learned about its final selection in August after public announcement by USPS. In preparation for potential inclusion, conservation work was conducted on the painting, which had not been displayed publicly since 1987 due to darkened varnish and repair materials.
Roxy Sperber, Clowes conservator of paintings at the museum, noted that old varnish was obscuring vibrant colors such as ultramarine blue used by Sassoferrato: “These colors... were incredibly expensive... It was only during the conservation treatment that we were able to identify this pigment.” This restoration work allowed viewers to better appreciate the artist’s skill.
Allie Miller, a Marian University student majoring in chemistry with an art studio minor, contributed to this conservation effort during her internship. She analyzed pigments and varnish ingredients used in "Madonna and Child." Reflecting on her involvement with this significant project she stated: “It’s hard to process how big this project is... This is something that I will forever in some way have my name attached to.”
Miller also appreciated working on an artwork expressing Christian faith while studying at a Catholic university: “Whether you’re Catholic or Christian... it is an across-the-board image that we can all recognize.” She highlighted unique aspects within different versions produced by Sassoferrato’s workshop—specifically noting how Mary looks forward rather than down towards Christ Child: “She is looking at us... It feels like you’re going to inherently have a connection with her.”
Sean Gallagher reported these details for The Criterion newspaper associated with Archdiocese Of Indianapolis.
