Stamps mark Gallery's 150th anniversary

The third in a series of commemorative stamps marking the 150th anniversary of the National Gallery of Ireland have gone on sale at post offices throughout the country.

A special collection set, for the 2004 issue, features examples of the work of internationally-renowned artists Diego Velasquez, Caravaggio, Nicolas Poussin and Walter Osborne.

This year’s collection set, the final of three, is based on the “Masterpiece” theme and includes a 16 stamp sheetlet with information on each artist and their paintings and a set of four stamps.

The latest issue features Velasquez’s Kitchen Maid with the Supper at Emmaus; Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ; Poussin’s The Lamentation over the dead Christ and Walter Osborne’s The House Builders.

The stamps are all denominated at 48c and are available with a first day cover and a prestige booklet of 16 stamps.