Issue date: 22 Mar, 2019
MUSEUMS
The Museo Sorolla, the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao and the Museo Nacional del Prado are the star attractions of three new Premium Sheets that Correos is issuing to once again promote an important part of Spanish culture: our country’s museums.
Museo Sorolla: located the centre of Madrid, this truly special museum was founded by Clotilde García del Castillo to preserve and disseminate Joaquín Sorolla's works.
The stamp depicts its Hall II, once the artist's office, where he used to receive his clients and exhibit some of his works. The hall preserves original furniture and decorations and even the sofa still has its original upholstery. The hall is currently dedicated to family portraits such as the ones the artist painted of his wife Clotilde and their three children.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao/Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa: the separate collections of the Museo de Bellas Artes (founded in 1908) and the Museo de Arte Moderno (officially opened in 1924) were merged in in 1945. The old building constructed at the time was joined by a more modern one in 1970. Everything was renovated in 2001.
The central feature depicted in the stamp is the Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga monument located outside the museum, considered one of Francisco Durrio's most outstanding works. The golden-bronze sculpture standing on a pink granite pedestal represents a Euterpe, the muse of music, who seems to be expressing grief for the death of the Bilbao-based composer.
Bicentenary of the Museo Nacional del Prado: internationally famous, the Museo del Prado is regarded as one of the world’s finest art galleries. Designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785 to house the Natural History Cabinet, the building welcomes us with its marvellous architecture, a prelude to what we will see inside. The great works we can enjoy there include Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya's Charles IV of Spain and His Family . Commemorating the museum’s second century, the stamp depicts a picture of one of its finest and most extensive galleries, inviting us to contemplate and enjoy its works of art.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.