The set is made up of four values of € 0,60 - € 1,00 - € 1,40 and € 1,70 and celebrates the following artists: the 150th anniversary of the birth of the composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) and the centenary of the death of the artist Giovanni Fattori (1825-1908), the centenary of the birth of the author Giovannino Guareschi (1908-1968) and the bicentenary of the birth of the French artist Honore Daumier (1808-1879).
In the descriptive strips of the sheets of 16 stamps, can be found a portrait and a brief biography of the four artists.
The € 0,60 stamp reproduces the posters published by Ricordi for the Boheme and Madame Butterfly by Puccini, the composer of operas. On the € 1,00 value are depicted two paintings by Fattori, the most important exponent of the Macchiaioli movement: the "Rotonda di Palmieri" and the drawing of "Vita Militare", designed for a set of illustrated postcards for Richter & Co. in Naples.
The € 1,40 stamp recalls the works of the writer, Guareschi, with his book cover designs and photogram from the films directed by Julien Duvivier. The € 1,70 value depicts two works by Daumier: "The Print Collectors" and a painted pottery piece.
Issue date: 22 August 2008
