Basil Smith (British, B. 1925). "The Cow Jumped over the Moon" Original Mixed Media painting on Hot Press Illustration Board. Signed lower left.Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Westminster Collector's Society 20p The Man on the Moon stamp issued February 6, 1990.The Moon, Earth's satellite and closest astral neighbor, has been a source of inspiration to poets and dreamers throughout the centuries. Its craters and mountains were first studied by astronomer Galileo, but weren't actually mapped until 1837 by Johann von M?dler. Because of their eerie resemblance to the human face, lunar spots have afforded an especially rich subject for the play of human fancy. Perhaps the oldest myth relating to the man in the moon originates in the Old Testament. In the Book of Numbers, a man is caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath, and as an example to mankind, he is condemned to stand forever on the moon with a bundle on his back. Chaucer and Shakespeare also allude to the man in the moon as an individual who was banished to the lunar surface as punishment. Even so, people throughout the centuries have seen the man in the moon as a more benevolent presence in the night sky, evoking the mysteries of the universe and of love. Many nursery rhymes have also been inspired by the moon. One credits the man in the moon with visiting earth: "The Man in the Moon came down too soon and asked his way to Norwich..." and another popular nursery rhyme conjures up a cow jumping over the moon.Image Size: 6 x 7 in.Overall Size: 9 x 10 in.Unframed.(B12343)