Dr. Peter Paul Rubens

Joking couple with a mirror, 1596. He's the artist, Hans von Aachen, whose day was today. Hope she's his wife!

2/2 Perseus dives in through a stoney sky, to the dismay of the monster in the stoney sea, to rescue Andromeda. Another wonder by Hans von Aachen.

Aeolus releasing the winds. Circa 1600, painting on alabaster. Rock becomes wind and cloud and water in fabulous move by Hans von Aachen, whose day is today.

2/2 Portrait of Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries, painted by Hans von Aachen when both were in Prague, magnet for artists, c. 1595.

Portrait of a girl, 1612, by Hans von Aachen. Today is his day.

Bacchus & Ceres, glorifying abundant food & drink. Cupid worried that they are about to tip glass of wine over his head. By Hans von Aachen, d. OTD 1615.

2/2 Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. Because why let a well-designed figure go to waste? There's always another use for it! Hans von Aachen knew that.

Allegory of wealth, in which we note that nobody really looks very happy. By Hans von Aachen, who died on this day 1615.

2/2 Portrait of Anna of Tyrol, Holy Roman Empress etc., 1604. A+ use of fab lace to distract from a lady's Habsburg jaw, lips. Thanks, Hans von Aachen!

If you've got the Habsburg jaw, flaunt it! Like Rudolf II, here painted in 1606 by Hans von Aachen, whose day is today.

2/2 Alas & woe! Phaeton falls through sky made of stone in this amazing work by Hans von Aachen.

Painted on stone (and how cool is that?) so that stony sky swirls naturally over the triumph of Cupid. Clever work by Hans von Aachen, whose day is today.

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.