Dr. Peter Paul Rubens

2/2 Just loving this wolf. More wolves should wear turbans! Hans von Aachen, trend-setting wolf-dresser.

Hans von Aachen: Allegory of declaration of war before Constantinople, with Hercules and the Furies and truly excellent turban-wearing wolf. It’s Hans’s day.

2/2 Looking at you from 1574 & not too pleased w/ what he sees, Hans von Aachen. Painted by himself. Today is his day.

Died (alas!) on this day in Prague, in 1615, Hans von Aachen, Here, his amazing double self-portrait as TWO men laughing. LOLOL.

2/2 Sri Lanken man asleep. And Sri Lanken woman asleep. Drawn by Esaias Boursse on his travels. Always on the lookout for sleeping people!

Sleeping maid by Esaias Boursse, painter of sleep. Today was his day.

2/2 Two captive elephants in Ceylon, as recorded by Esaias Boursse, early tourist.

Dutch offices in either Ceylon or the Cape of Good Hope, by Esaias Boursse, after he got the travel bug. He was born OTD in 1631.

2/2 Interior with woman doing needlework, by Esaias Boursse of Amsterdam, born OTD 1631.

Interior with a woman spinning. And also a man, perhaps reading. Another quiet scene by Esaias Boursse of Amsterdam, born OTD 1631.

2/2 Born on some other day -- twins! A more eventful episode in the normally quiet life painted by Esaias Boursse as shell-shocked family stare out at artist.

Born on this day in 1631, Esaias Boursse of Amsterdam. Painted the quietness of life in the Dutch Golden Age. Mother rests from work, baby is asleep, everything is.... calm.

Death Michiel Coxcie, born this day 1499: Death of Abel. Appreciating discretely placed jawbone of ass here.

2/2 No, not by Rogier van der Weyden! Another great copy by Michael Coxie, this one for Mary of Hungary.

No, not by Jan van Eyck! Full-scale copy made by Michiel Coxcie, aka The Flemish Raphael, in the 1550s for Philip II.

2/2 Once more the ‘Flemish Raphael’: Michiel Coxcie, born OTD 1499, w/ a particularly dramatic & violent David & Goliath.

Women Messing with Men's Heads du jour: Queen Tomyris with the head of Cyrus. Revenge! Worried what lesson modern ladies (& dog) at right are taking from this. By Michiel Coxcie, born OTD 1499.

2/2 Beautiful Annunciation by Michiel Coxcie, aka the Flemish Raphael. Especially loving Gabriel's outfit.

Born on this day in 1499, in Mechelen, Michiel Coxcie. Painter & designer of tapestries. Here, a fine self-portrait as Saint George. A ginger, yet! But only gets half a day today.

Wild nighttime revelry: festival of the elephant, from Antoine Caron. Today was his day.

3/3 Iconoclasm! Holy images taken to be burned on the pyre. Sacrilege!

2/2 Base, materialistic Calvinists take holy images to the pawnshop, or melt them down for metal. Shocking behavior, as depicted by Antoine Caron.

Wretched Calvinists going crazy & looting churches in Lyons, 1562. By Antoine Caron, who disapproved of both sides in French religious conflicts. Today is his day.

2/2 War. It's bad. Another little allegory to send to your friends who think war wI’ll be worth it, from Antoine Caron of Paris.

War. It’s bad. Don’t do it. As more elegantly expressed here in 1570 via the Triumph of Mars by Antoine Caron, whose day is today.

3/3 Dances with heads in Caron's Massacre. Fun!

2/2 You've stolen my heart! Taken a bit literally here by Antoine Caron in the Massacre Under the Triumverate, 1566.

Massacre under the Triumvirate: both of Romans in 1st century BC and of Protestants in France 1561. Two-timing from Antoine Caron, whose day is today.

2/2 On the steps, oddly small Black fellow, uncomfortably sized to monkey rather than to Augustus. No vision for him.

Augustus is granted a very Christian vision by the Tiburtine Sibyl. As imagined in the 1570s by Antoine Caron, whose day is today.