Royal Mail Christmas stamps’ artist is Mormon who sparked a religious controversy – In Entertainment

An 85-year-old Argentinian Mormon artist is behind the Royal Mail Christmas stamps this year. He previously caused controversy over his beliefs.

The six design styles tell the Nativity story in an original way. They are based upon artwork by Jorge Cocco (Cubist artist).

His Catholic upbringing led him to join the Mormon Church along with Myriam verbauwen, in 1962.

Mormons are Christians, but they also believe in the Promised Land of America. They claim that Adam and Eve lived there after being expelled from Eden.

An 85-year-old Argentinian Mormon artist is behind the Royal Mail Christmas stamps this year. He previously provoked controversy. Six designs that tell the Nativity story differently are inspired by Cubist artist Jorge Cocco’s artwork

Peter Bone (Tory MP) said, “It seems very odd that Royal Mail could not find a British artist for this.” Just wondering how many Argentinian stamped are created by British artists. David Gold, Royal Mail Executive, said that the stamps were created by Supple in Bath with assistance from Andrew Davison Starbridge, Cambridge Theology Lecturer.

America’s Oregon Catholic Press magazine had to apologize for using Cocco’s photograph on its cover last year. 

Instead of a generalized image of an Angel, as publishers thought, the image featured the Mormon Moroni figure. 

One critic stated that the image wasn’t compatible with Catholicism and was therefore ‘highly inappropriate’.

Not everyone is thrilled that he has been chosen to design the Christmas stamps this year.

Peter Bone MP for Tory said, “It seems very odd that Royal Mail could not find a British artist. 

“I wonder how many Argentinian stamps were designed by British artists.”

David Gold, Royal Mail’s executive, stated that the stamps were created by Supple, a Bath-based studio, with the input of Andrew Davison Starbridge (a Cambridge theology lecturer) and were “beautiful illustrations” of Christmas.

Stucco windows were used in last year’s stamps from a Leicestershire parish church.

Jorge Cocco is the artist. After using an image of Jorge Cocco’s on their cover, America’s Oregon Catholic Press magazine had to apologize last year. This image featured the Mormon Moroni figure, not a generic image of an angel like the publishers thought. Right: a statue of Moroni on the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple (missing its horn after an earthquake)