Catholic university student helps restore 17th-century Madonna and Christ painting featured on USPS Christmas stamp

For more than 60 years the United States Postal Service (USPS) has issued a stamp at Christmas depicting Mary and the Christ child.

This year, the USPS based its Christmas stamp on a historic painting, Madonna and Child, created in the workshop of the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato in the 17th century, reports The Criterion, a publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Since 1938, the painting has been part of the permanent collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA). 

In February 2023, the USPS asked IMA for a high-resolution digital image of the painting, a request prompting the museum to perform some much-needed conservation work on the painting, which had not been displayed publicly since 1987. 

Varnish on the painting, and materials used in a repair made many years ago, had caused the ancient piece to darken appreciably, explained Roxy Sperber, an art conservator at IMA, “masking the quality of the painting technique and the beautiful vibrant colors that Sassoferrato used.” 

Many of the colors used in the painting were very expensive in the 17th century, particularly an ultramarine blue, said Sperber, “and the artist would have spent a lot of money making sure he and his workshop used the most vibrant, luxurious colors for this painting.” She recounted that during the painting’s conservation process “we were able to identify this pigment, offering greater dimension to the story of the painting. To show this work with a discolored layer that masks the vibrant colors takes away from that interesting story and from the visitor’s appreciation of the artist’s skill.” 

This is where Allie Miller, a senior at Marian University in Indianapolis, comes into the story.  

A chemistry major and an art studio minor, Miller took a student internship at IMA, where she found herself helping analyze the pigments used in the painting and the ingredients of its varnish. “Working with Marian Assistant Professor of Chemistry Alexandra Tamerius, Ph.D., and Gregory Smith, Ph.D., Senior Conservation Scientist at Newfields, Miller gained hands-on experience analyzing the painting’s materials and authenticity,” noted a Marian University press release on the project. 

Miller recalled the painting “was a mystery to us at first because its composition differed from Sassoferrato’s other works. It was an exciting challenge and a nationally recognized project.” As she worked on analyzing the painting, “her research confirmed that the materials aligned with those used in other Sassoferrato works, solidifying its place in the artist’s portfolio,” reported the Marian press release. 

The opportunity to work on such an important project has been invaluable in Miller’s plans to pursue a career in art restoration. “Having my name attached to the stamp is exciting and will bolster my grad school applications,” she said. 

Miller, who is a Protestant Christian, told The Criterion that she appreciated the opportunity to work on an art piece that is expressive of the faith of all Christians. “It adds an extra level of power with it being such a recognizable image,” she said. “Whether you’re Catholic or [Protestant], it is an across-the-board image that we can all recognize.” 

She added that as the painting is featured on a U.S. postage stamp, it will have even wider exposure. “This is a stamp that will be nationwide,” she said. “You’re spreading the message even further. That’s an extra bonus to the project.” According to USPS, it printed 210 million stamps featuring the Sassoferrato’s Madonna and Child painting. 

For the Indianapolis Museum of Art, restoring the painting for the Christmas stamp has come with an added benefit: For the first time in 37 years, the painting is now on display at the museum until January 31, 2025.