Andorra (French post) 1974 - Focus

  Andorra (French post)

27th April 1974 - "Sculpture"
design & engraving : Albert Decaris
printer: Imprimerie des Timbres-poste et des ValeursFiduciaires (ITVF) - France

Andorra is rich in Romanesque churches. In 1974, the French Post of Andorra selected two "Virgins in Majesty" from this period to illustrate the common theme of "Sculpture".

These reliquary virgins were carried in procession and then placed on altars or embedded in the tympanums of churches.

 

image source Ibolli

The first stamp represents La Vierge de Pal (the Virgin of Pal, or it's exact name the Verge del Remei in Catalan) which is kept in the church of Sant Clement in Pal. This 12th century sculpture was restored in 1988. The virgin is holding an apple - symbolic of power - in her right hand.

  image source Diari d'Andorra

The second stamp shows La Vierge des remèdes de Santa Coloma (the Virgin of the Cures of Santa Coloma) from the 13th century and kept in Andorra's oldest church in Santa Coloma.

image source Ibolli

The child Jesus holds the apple in his left hand and extends his right hand in a gesture of blessing. Mary is carrying a container interpreted by tradition as the "vase of heavenly ointments".

 

 image source Wikimedia Commons