Dr. Peter Paul Rubens
@peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
All-around genius working for peace, beauty, and intelligent thought.
IRL: professor of art history. Occasionally write things about Rubens. Also Dutch art, the Bruegel family, and Elizabethan visual culture.
Reader of many novels. DC & Amsterdam.
IRL: professor of art history. Occasionally write things about Rubens. Also Dutch art, the Bruegel family, and Elizabethan visual culture.
Reader of many novels. DC & Amsterdam.
Pinned
Insanely perfect: fantastic little bouquet of flowers in a glass vase by Daniel Seghers of Antwerp, painter & Jesuit priest, whose day is today.
December 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Insanely perfect: fantastic little bouquet of flowers in a glass vase by Daniel Seghers of Antwerp, painter & Jesuit priest, whose day is today.
Cartouche w/ bust of Nicolas Poussin, surrounded with flowers by Daniel Seghers, whose day is today. Because great artists should be honored & adorned!
December 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Cartouche w/ bust of Nicolas Poussin, surrounded with flowers by Daniel Seghers, whose day is today. Because great artists should be honored & adorned!
Baby J and Mum, looking very cheerful because they've been garlanded with exceptional roses by Daniel Seghers, whose day is today.
December 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Baby J and Mum, looking very cheerful because they've been garlanded with exceptional roses by Daniel Seghers, whose day is today.
Born on this day in 1590, in Antwerp, Daniel Seghers. Painter of flowers, and Jesuit priest. Here, a double swag of radiant flowers, plus a few insects.
December 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Born on this day in 1590, in Antwerp, Daniel Seghers. Painter of flowers, and Jesuit priest. Here, a double swag of radiant flowers, plus a few insects.
As the day draws to a close, we're dozing off at the bar with David Ryckaert, whose day has been today.
December 3, 2025 at 1:52 AM
As the day draws to a close, we're dozing off at the bar with David Ryckaert, whose day has been today.
Old woman feeding a cat, who appears understandably skeptical about this procedure. By David III Ryckaert, whose birthday is today.
December 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Old woman feeding a cat, who appears understandably skeptical about this procedure. By David III Ryckaert, whose birthday is today.
Alchemist, late at night, thinking he can turn dross into gold. How well David III Ryckaert pertains to issues of the moment, given that he was born OTD in 1612.
December 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Alchemist, late at night, thinking he can turn dross into gold. How well David III Ryckaert pertains to issues of the moment, given that he was born OTD in 1612.
A touch of medical agony from 1638, to make you appreciate modern forms of anesthesia and antibacterials. From David Ryckaert of Antwerp, whose day is today.
December 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A touch of medical agony from 1638, to make you appreciate modern forms of anesthesia and antibacterials. From David Ryckaert of Antwerp, whose day is today.
Dancing demons for your Tuesday, by David Ryckaert. Honestly, this is how I feel right now.
December 2, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Dancing demons for your Tuesday, by David Ryckaert. Honestly, this is how I feel right now.
Born on this day 1612, in Antwerp, David Ryckaert III. Here painting a festive peasant in 1638. Excellent excuse for smoking & drinking in studio!
December 2, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Born on this day 1612, in Antwerp, David Ryckaert III. Here painting a festive peasant in 1638. Excellent excuse for smoking & drinking in studio!
Teaser: whose skeleton?
December 2, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Teaser: whose skeleton?
Young man in a lot of shirt, painted in 1661 by Isaack Luttichuys of London and Amsterdam. Today was his day.
December 2, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Young man in a lot of shirt, painted in 1661 by Isaack Luttichuys of London and Amsterdam. Today was his day.
Skull (vanitas!); human body anatomized (ditto!); celestial globe and collection of works by Rembrandt & Lievens. Plus Simon Luttichuys, hard at work & reflected in glass sphere. It's his day.
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Skull (vanitas!); human body anatomized (ditto!); celestial globe and collection of works by Rembrandt & Lievens. Plus Simon Luttichuys, hard at work & reflected in glass sphere. It's his day.
Cute baby pix of the past du jour. Has already been awarded a lovely gold chain. Mum is very proud! By Isaac luttichuys, whose day is today.
December 1, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Cute baby pix of the past du jour. Has already been awarded a lovely gold chain. Mum is very proud! By Isaac luttichuys, whose day is today.
That perfect silver cup from Simon Luttichuys. Today is for him & his brother Isaack.
December 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
That perfect silver cup from Simon Luttichuys. Today is for him & his brother Isaack.
Beautiful double reflection in this still life of bread & wine by Isaack Luttichuys, whose day is today. Save this wine, you will need it later.
December 1, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Beautiful double reflection in this still life of bread & wine by Isaack Luttichuys, whose day is today. Save this wine, you will need it later.
Young woman with an ostrich feather in 1656, painted by Isaack Luttichuys. Today is his day.
December 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Young woman with an ostrich feather in 1656, painted by Isaack Luttichuys. Today is his day.
On this day in 1512, Michelangelo unveiled his Sistine Chapel ceiling to an awestruck public. I'm still in awe, 513 years later.
December 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
On this day in 1512, Michelangelo unveiled his Sistine Chapel ceiling to an awestruck public. I'm still in awe, 513 years later.
Shelf in a painter's studio in 1646. And who, I wonder, is that handsome artist portrayed in the print there in center? Painted by Simon Luttichuys in 1646; it's his day today.
December 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Shelf in a painter's studio in 1646. And who, I wonder, is that handsome artist portrayed in the print there in center? Painted by Simon Luttichuys in 1646; it's his day today.
Today’s artists without known birthdays: brothers Isaack & Simon Luttichuys. Here, woman with a rose in 1663, by Isaack.
December 1, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Today’s artists without known birthdays: brothers Isaack & Simon Luttichuys. Here, woman with a rose in 1663, by Isaack.
Skating, sledding, and a little kolf on a frozen river in 1668. By Adriaen van de Velde.
November 30, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Skating, sledding, and a little kolf on a frozen river in 1668. By Adriaen van de Velde.
Almost missed the birthday (1554) of the great poet Sir Philip Sidney. Courtier, soldier, and in general the fairest flower of Elizabethan knighthood.
November 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Almost missed the birthday (1554) of the great poet Sir Philip Sidney. Courtier, soldier, and in general the fairest flower of Elizabethan knighthood.
Among his other virtues, artist Sir Winston Churchill owned & painted these fine tapestries at Blenheim. I approve of tapestry-painting.
November 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Among his other virtues, artist Sir Winston Churchill owned & painted these fine tapestries at Blenheim. I approve of tapestry-painting.
A couple, their children, the nurse, the dog, the carriage - they came all the way out to a muddy bank to have a portrait painted Strange choice, but Adriaen van de Velde handles it well.
November 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
A couple, their children, the nurse, the dog, the carriage - they came all the way out to a muddy bank to have a portrait painted Strange choice, but Adriaen van de Velde handles it well.
Born OTD in 1874 Sir Winston Churchill; and in 1508 Andrea Palladio. Here, Churchill's painting of a Palladian bridge. Serendipity!
November 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Born OTD in 1874 Sir Winston Churchill; and in 1508 Andrea Palladio. Here, Churchill's painting of a Palladian bridge. Serendipity!