Dr. Peter Paul Rubens

An early work by Artemisia Gentileschi has been acquired by a Spanish foundation: exhibition in Madrid In Spain, important acquisition for the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation (FMCMP) in Madrid, which recently enriched its collection with a work by Artemisia Gentileschi that was sold at aucti...

An early variant of Artemisia Gentileschi's Madonna and Child acquired by the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation in Madrid

Music, reading, eating. Sounds like a great combination, so thank Evaristo Baschenis for providing it for us today.

2/2 And how long has it been since anybody cleaned this studio? Dust as a register of the time spent painting this arrangement.

Curtain rises and a sculpted man performs a dance among silent musical instruments. By Evaristo Baschenis, whose day is today.

2/2 Huge curtain reveals small but not trivial things: a globe (and a flower), a cabinet (closed) and a letter ( that's been opened). But mostly musical instruments because it's by Evaristo Baschenis.

Art, Science, Culture. All celebrated here by Evaristo Baschenis, whose birthday we in turn are celebrating.

2/2 Fab inlaid musical instruments and a deck of cards, all gathered in the painter's studio by Bartolomeo Bettero.

Sea shell (see it back there?) brings you the sound of the ocean, earning its place among the musical instruments collected here by Bartolomeo Bettero. Sharing today with his teacher Baschenis.

Boy with basket containing a masterful assortment of bread that he is not eager to share with you. By Evaristo Baschenis, 1650s.

2/2 Music, and more music. Plus some fruit. From the 1670s, by Evaristo Baschenis. It's his birthday today.

Born on this day in 1617, in Bergamo, Evaristo Baschenis. Painter of things musical. Here playing the spinet with his patron Ottavio Agliardi on the theorbo. Left wing of a triptych portrait of this musical family.

2/2 William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle, in 1615. Painted by John de Critz, rival of today's artist Robert Peake, but had to post it because of fab embroidery. You understand.

William Pope, 1st Earl of Downe, in amazing outfit before his swanky house. Are those gloves tied up in cloak cord? Cool! Painted in 1603 by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

2/2 Catherine Carey's truly fab jewels and embroidery. Robert Peake spent a lot of time replicating all of it! That's what she was paying him for.

Catherine Carey, Countess of Nottingham. First Lady of the bedchamber to her cousin Queen Elizabeth. Painted in 1597 in extravagantly fab dress by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

2/2 Portrait of Elizabeth Poulett: the smile, the earrings, the lace. Bliss! Peak Peake in 1616.

Incredibly well dressed and accessorized: Elizabeth Poulett in 1616. Painter Robert Peake, whose day is today, does justice to her A+ wardrobe.

Brothers: Henry, dashing & cosmopolitan at age 16. Charles, doing his best in garter robes at age 11. But look who survived & became king -- ha! Painted by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

Born on this day in 1478, Baldassare Castiglione. Wrote the book on how to be a courtier. And Raphael painted it. And here they both are.

2/2 Princess Elizabeth Stuart has ultimate fashion accessory of 1603: a lace fan. Nice!

Little Princess Elizabeth Stuart, later the Winter Queen of Bohemia, at age 7 in 1603, w/ dubious hair-styling. Painted by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

2/2 Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, on horseback in A+ riding gear and accompanied by Time, 1611. Which was short for Henry, alas! By Robert Peake.

Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, looking dashing and bloodthirsty at age 9. At least young Sir John Harrington at left is impressed! Painted by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

2/2 Anne Knollys, but mostly her jewels & ruff, in 1582: an early work by Robert Peake, whose day is today.

Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Robert Peake. Hailed from Lincolnshire, came to London, made it big against stiff competition from Dutch & Flemish painters. Here Frances, Lady Reynell, 1595.

Wild times at the inn. How much do you have to drink to manage that trick on the 3-legged stool? From Joachim Beuckelaer, whose day has been today.

2/2 Not a portrait, but still a serious woman, selling vegetables in 1565.

Serious for her portrait: young woman, painted in 1562 by Joachim Beuckelaer. Today is his day..jpg

2/2 Some more saucy peasants from Joachim Beuckelaer. It's his day today.

Poultry Sellers: erotic Flemish art. Think about who will handle the eggs and where bird finds a nest. Ouch! We were crude back in 1567. By Joachim Beuckelaer, whose day is today.