Dr. Peter Paul Rubens

Saint Francis was totally not consulted about this visit from a dragon. By Juan de Flandes, 1505. Today was his day.

2/2 Daguerreotype of 2 young men eating watermelon, c. 1855, for #NationalWatermelonDay

Cantaloupe and watermelon, 1651, by Giovanna Garzoni. For #NationalWatermelonDay

2/2 And mom. Isabella had thought that being Queen of Castile and Spain would mean better jewelry. But no. Painted by Juan de Flandes.

Portrait of a girl, possibly Catherine of Aragon (or Juana, her sister) at age 11. Painted by Juan de Flandes, a Flemish artist in Spain, in 1496. Today is his day.

Albert Eckhout painted the produce of Brazil for his Dutch employers from 1636-1644. #NationalWatermelonDay

2/2 Entombment of Christ, one of Juan de Flandes' scenes from glorious Palencia altarpiece. Burial in nice church crypt, not some rural cave like Raphael & others showed! And excellent dog.

Glorious main altarpiece in cathedral of Palencia, with sculpture by Felipe Vigarny and painted panels by Juan de Flandes, Flemish painter in Spain, whose day is today. Overwhelming!

2/2 Another meal without much food on the table, but at least there will be plenty of wine and no heads! Marriage at Cana, 1504, by Juan de Flandes whose day is today.

Women messing w/ men's heads du jour: Salome shows up at dinner w/ head of John the Baptist. Tasty! By Juan de Flandes, 1496. Today is his day.

2/2 More Frida Kahlo watermelons for #NationalWatermelonDay, and some by Diego Rivera just to be fair.

Viva la vida -- Frida Kahlo celebrating #NationalWatermelonDay. I never realized the fruit's power!

2/2 A more welcome conversation with Christ and the samaritan woman, 1500, by Juan de Flandes.

Why you wake me up? Was so dead! Juan de Flandes, making me wonder what it was really like for Lazarus to be brought to life after 3 days dead. Even his sister doesn't seem sure this was a good idea.

Today is also #NationalWatermelonDay so here is one, with some other fruits, by Fernando Botero. A little Cotán moment with those hanging oranges.

2/2 Their son, Charles V, as a teen-ager. Mind you, he was truly Great, but the nose and the jaw? Got them from his grandfather, poor lad.

Joanna of Castile and Philip the Fair, a Habsburg before the jawlines. Parents of Charles V. Painted by Juan de Flandes, a Flemish painter in Spain, in 1500.

2/2 Looks like broad daylight to me, but this is supposed to be a nighttime Nativity, so why isn't Baby J asleep? Painted in 1510 by Juan de Flandes, whose day is today.

Adoration of the Magi, 1510, by Juan de Flandes, a compatriot of mine but working in Spain. Big emphasis on skin color, including whitest Baby J ever. Mary is unimpressed by Magi presents.

2/2 Another Annunciation from Juan de Flandes, 1510. Now Mary is like, the giant bird again? Must we?

Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Juan de Flandes, a Flemish painter in Spain. Here, Annunciation, c. 1500. Mary seems to be reading a comic book. Good for her!

2/2 Somebody's grooming stuff hanging on a cupboard door. Incredibly effective trompe l'oeil by Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1655.

The picture looks back, and it’s not too pleased to see you. By Samuel van Hoogstraten in 1653. Today was his day.

2/2 Perspective of a courtyard with reading man & at least four pets. Can you spot them all? By Samuel van Hoogstraten of Dordrecht, whose day was today.

Couple strolling in the transept of Westminster Abbey, as painted in perspective by Samuel van Hoogstraten of Dordrecht. Today has been his day.

2/2 Another visual trick: perspective box (with dog, cat, and dinner!) from 1663. Look at it right, and it's a 3-D room. The cleverness of Samuel van Hoogstraten, whose day is today.

Cupboard of liturgical vessels, and ribbon rack with gloves, combs, & cards. Curious eye-foolery by Samuel van Hoogstraten.

2/2 Not the painting hanging in that farther room. Was there another, similar work now lost? Or did Samuel van Hoogstraten just invent a new work by Gerard ter Borch.

Incredibly evocative work by Samuel van Hoogstraten, born on this day in 1627. A kind of domestic still life. Nothing & everything.

2/2 Johan Cornelisz. Vijgeboom & his wife, pausing in their garden in 1647 to admire the tulips and to be painted by Samuel van Hoogstraten.