Featured here, is what is now considered one of the most beautiful scenes,
that of the Adoration of the Shepherds of Jesus Christ, on an unused postage
stamp of New Zealand. The stamps issued more than 30 years ago depicts this
scene as painted by one of the world's greatest artists, and yet one of the

world's least known, Gerard van Honthorst*.

*Gerard van Honthorst ( known in Italian as Gherardo della Notte ) was born
in Utrecht, the Netherlands. In 1610 he traveled to Rome to study with the
great Italian artists, especially Caravaggio and Manfredi. He specialized in
candlelight scenes and his most noted works include "The Beheading of St.
John the Baptist", "Christ Before the High Priest" and the "Supper Party".
Upon his return to Holland ( 1620 ), he played an important role in bringing
knowledge of Caravaggio to the North and became an extremely popular
portrait painter. Early in 1628, Honthorst went to London to become
the official Painter to King of England ( Charles I ).