CHRISTMAS 2007

Motif: Nativity by an anonymous painter, from the Bishop’s Palace in Požega, oil on wood, 18th c., photo by Goran Saletto The Christmas motifs on the Croatian postage stamps are selected in such a way that the whole of Croatia should rejoice, each year another part of it, from Konavle to Istria, from Lika and Zagorje to Srijem. Croatia has a great abundance of Christmas scenes, and even the most modest of altars is worth its gift emanating light and warmth. Naturally, we have not passed over the great masters - we have even ordered new works from the contemporary masters. And yet, this thread of the annual festival of togetherness may be the finest thing that one day would define our country and our time by this range of small postage stamps. This year the Croatian Christmas postage stamp brings before our eyes the painting of an anonymous Baroque master painter from the bishop’s palace in Požega. The inducement for this choice was the 10th anniversary of the newly-established Bishopric of Požega. Its installation is always the date that tells us about the “critical mass” of history, culture and life sufficient for such a significant identification of some territory. In the past ten years a lot has been done for the evaluation of memory and the revival of the artistic heritage. This painting belongs to the saved and honoured inventory that the Požega Collegiate Chapter, the present Bishop’s Palace, adds to the historic range of bishops’ sees that have become cultural centres. If the occasion for our selection of the motif of this year’s Christmas postage stamp should be the tenth anniversary of the Bishopric, then the reason for the choice is the charm and impressionability of the painting itself. Its rich sagoma, the profiled outline makes the painting joyful and dynamic; the scene itself is reduced to only three human and two animal figures with a minimum inventory, filled with smiling density. Mary is holding a diaper ready for swaddling with a warm and intimate motion, St. Joseph is festively and serenely present, the two animal images have almost human physiognomies (if that should be considered as a compliment). The whole scene, from the manger to the roof is united by the most modest gold of the straw. Moreover, the golden rays emanating from Jesus’s little body are only one more layer of the trans-substantivised straw. The angel on the roof is holding a placard with the words of the hymn Gloria in Excelsis Deo. This painting will certainly carry throughout the world the message “Glory be to God on high” in the name of Croatia.