La Poste is selling a collector’s stamp, in homage to a famous painter from the Barbizon School

As a symbol, the first day of sales was held in the painters’ village, at the Maison-atelier of Jean-François Millet, the very place where the painter of the Barbizon School (Seine-et-Marne) created his works… This Friday, January 17, 2025, the La Poste group unveiled in preview, the stamp of the artistic series which represents the canvas Gleanerspainted in 1857 and kept at the Musée d’Orsay, in Paris.

Printed in 610,200 copies

Printed in 610,200 copies, it marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Jean-François Millet, who is buried in the Chailly-en-Bière cemetery. “Millet arrived in the village in 1849 to escape cholera in Paris,” recalls Anne-Marie Meunier, the owner of the place. He ultimately remained in Barbizon until the end of his life, in 1875. We strive to preserve the spirit of this workshop where he painted his greatest works: Gleaners or the Angelus. »

After a stamp dedicated to Rosa Bonheur in 2022, La Poste continues to celebrate heritage, art and great artists. This stamp bearing the image of the painting of the Gleaners also coincides with a municipal project: the Barbizon town hall will soon erect a statuaryrepresenting this painting, in the town hall park.

“What I remember is the nobility of attitude of these women and the magic of expression that only Jean-François Millet was capable of representing,” underlines Gérard Taponat, the mayor of Barbizon. With a face value of €2.78 (Green Letter), this stamp should be of interest to both philatelists and art and history lovers.

“This painting was proposed after examination by the philatelist program commission to celebrate this great French painter,” explains Didier Chabannefinancial director at Philaposte, in charge of the official French philatelic program.

“A way to pay homage to him”

Véronique Mercier and Léa Patrick, descendants of the painter, were present at the unveiling of the stamp. “It is an honor for the family, a large part of which has inherited his love for art and nature,” confides his great-great-great granddaughter.

And added: “The stamp is an engraving, a technique that Jean-François Millet also used and it is a way of paying homage to him among the general public, he who had made the people one of his favorite subjects . » Sold in preview at La Maison-atelier and at La Poste de Barbizon this weekend, it will be available in many Post offices in France, from Monday January 20, 2025.

“Take this work to travel around the world”

The mail order is also possible from Philaposte (Philaposte Service Clients Commercial ZI avenue Benoît-Frachon, BP 10106 Boulazac, 24051 Périgueux Cedex 09) or the Musée de La Poste (34, boulevard de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris)

The Des glaneuses stamp will also be on sale, from Tuesday January 21, 2025, at the specialized store Le Carré d’Encre (13 bis, rue des Mathurins, in Paris). It can also be reserved at the tobacconist or on the La Poste website.

This stamp could potentially reach 1.2 million people: purchasers and recipients of letters or postcards bearing the stamp and “make this work travel around the world”.

Information: orders from Philaposte on 05 53 03 19 26 or [email protected]. More information on www.laposte.fr.

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