Girl in a white kimono, 1893. By George Hendrik Breitner, who was born on this day in 1857.
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.
Also born on this day in 1494, François I, great ruler & patron of arts. Here on horseback by F. Clouet in 1540.
Trams, carriages, people: hustle and bustle at the Dam in Amsterdam by George Hendrik Breitner. He was born on this day in 1857.
Good afternoon! Three schoolgirls on the bridge by the Westermarkt, Amsterdam. By George Hendrik Breitner who was born on this day in 1857.
1Happy 170th birthday George Hendrik: here, girl in a red and white kimono. It stars in several of his works.
George Hendrik Breitner, born OTD 1857: girl adjusting an earring before her mirror, 1893.
Born on this day in 1857, in Rotterdam, Dutch impressionist George Hendrik Breitner. Here, his self portrait w/ cat picture in the background. Nice touch.
Muscles of the back and shoulder, female model, as studied in the 1680s by Gerard de Lairesse of Amsterdam, whose day has been today.
Some heavenly intervention to drive Heliodorus out of the Temple in Jerusalem, 1674. By Gerard de Lairesse, born on this day in 1640.
Achilles Discovered among the Daughters of Lycomedes 1680. Lively tale of cross-dressing courtesy of Gerard de Lairesse, born on this day in 1640.
Creepily seductive skeleton illustrates Govard Bidloo's 1690 book on the human body. Gerard de Lairesse knew how to capture the reader's attention! And it's his day.
Baby dance. I'm sure there's a reason! Gerard de Lairesse, not telling us what it is. It's his day.
Hermes: Calypso, stop seducing Odysseus! Calypso to us: who me? Kid at left: having big fun w/ armor. Gerard de Lairesse, born OTD 1640.
Anatomy of the hand and arm. As studied by Gerard de Lairesse of Amsterdam, born on this day in 1640.
Born on this day in 1640, Gerard de Lairesse of (mostly) Amsterdam. Painter, writer, and musician! Here portrayed by Rembrandt in the 1660s.
Who gets the last laugh? Ferrara court jester Gonella, painted in 1442 by Jean Fouquet, whose day was today.
Le tres victorieux roy de France as the frame announces: Charles VII, portrayed in around 1450 by court artist Jean Fouquet. His day is today.
Saint Maurus of Glanfeuil, walking on water, saves St. Placidius from drowning. Not actually by Fouquet (whose day is today) but also from the Hours of Simon de Varye and too excellent to miss.
Simon de Varie meets the Virgin & child in facing pages of his beautiful book of hours, c. 1455. Painted by Jean Fouquet, whose day is today.
Virgin and, peeking out from under her blue robe, Baby J. With fab floral border. From the Hours of Simon de Varye, 1455, by Jean Fouquet.
Adoration of the Kings, starring Charles VII as #1 adorer. Baby J wonders what's inside that interesting gold cup. From Heures d'Étienne Chevalier, illuminated in the 1450s by Jean Fouquet. It's his day.
Small page, big things: Annunciation, taking place in Sainte Chapelle de Bourges. From the Hours of Étienne de Chevalier, 1450s, by Jean Fouquet. It's his day today.
Madonna lactans w/ eerie red & blue cherubim. Hyper-real yet utterly unreal. Right wing of the Melun diptych, 1450, by Jean Fouquet.It's his day.
Today's artist w/out a (known) birthday: the great French court painter & illuminator Jean Fouquet. Here by himself in 1450, a remarkably early self-portrait miniature.
Cattle being driven back to the village because it's the end of summer. And it's the end of Pieter Bruegel's day. Good night!
Are you out dancing and if not, why not? Pieter Bruegel wants to know. It's his day today.
In battle between Carnival and Lent, 1559, the festive & impulsive side of human nature fights against the restraints of ordinary life. And charity is a question for both sides. By the great Pieter Bruegel.
Finally -- the end of a long day's work, in the Hay Harvest. To say nothing of the veggies & fruit! Fabulous seasonal landscape by the great Pieter Bruegel, who (alas!) died on this day in 1569.
Rebels are expelled from the heavens by some spindley yet merciless angels. A strangely cheerful and even hilarious scene from 1562 by Pieter Bruegel.
The unfettered pleasures of Pieter Bruegel's marvelous Children's Games of 1560: an entire town taken over by children at play. Today is Bruegel's day.
