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.
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.
Pinned
El Greco’s portrait of the great renaissance miniaturist Giulio Clovio in 1570, holding one of his masterpieces. Today has been his day.
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
El Greco’s portrait of the great renaissance miniaturist Giulio Clovio in 1570, holding one of his masterpieces. Today has been his day.
Portrait of a girl. By Giulio Clovio, miniaturist, who died (Alas!) on this day in 1578.
January 5, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Portrait of a girl. By Giulio Clovio, miniaturist, who died (Alas!) on this day in 1578.
Giulio Clovio painted the Tower of Babel several times, once in collaboration w/ the great Pieter Bruegel. That work is alas lost. Here is Clovio painting Babel in the Farnese Hours.
January 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Giulio Clovio painted the Tower of Babel several times, once in collaboration w/ the great Pieter Bruegel. That work is alas lost. Here is Clovio painting Babel in the Farnese Hours.
El Greco lines up Renaissance art's superstars: Titian, Michelangelo, Giulio Clovio, and Raphael. We don't usually hear as much about the great miniaturist Clovio, but today is his day!
January 5, 2026 at 9:27 PM
El Greco lines up Renaissance art's superstars: Titian, Michelangelo, Giulio Clovio, and Raphael. We don't usually hear as much about the great miniaturist Clovio, but today is his day!
Crucifixion faced by (figured by) the Brazen Serpent in the amazing Farnese Hours, by Giulio Clovio. Today is his day.
January 5, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Crucifixion faced by (figured by) the Brazen Serpent in the amazing Farnese Hours, by Giulio Clovio. Today is his day.
A+ attention to cannibal cuisine in miniature of Spanish expedition to America. From The Exploits of Charles V (who never went to America) by Giulio Clovio (who didn’t either but had a vivid imagination).
January 5, 2026 at 7:12 PM
A+ attention to cannibal cuisine in miniature of Spanish expedition to America. From The Exploits of Charles V (who never went to America) by Giulio Clovio (who didn’t either but had a vivid imagination).
Corpus Christi procession in Rome, watched from the heavens by full cast of saints. 1540s. Figures are the size of ants! From the Farnese Hours by Giulio Clovio, whose day is today.
January 5, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Corpus Christi procession in Rome, watched from the heavens by full cast of saints. 1540s. Figures are the size of ants! From the Farnese Hours by Giulio Clovio, whose day is today.
Your boy is so lovely, Mary. But my John, well, we have issues. Holy Family as imagined by Giulio Clovio, whose day is today.
January 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Your boy is so lovely, Mary. But my John, well, we have issues. Holy Family as imagined by Giulio Clovio, whose day is today.
Reposted by Dr. Peter Paul Rubens
❄️ Amsterdam today ❄️
January 5, 2026 at 1:56 PM
❄️ Amsterdam today ❄️
One redeems the other: Incarnation & Fall of Man. From the utterly incredible Farnese Hours, 1540, by Giulio Clovio. His day is today.
January 5, 2026 at 2:29 PM
One redeems the other: Incarnation & Fall of Man. From the utterly incredible Farnese Hours, 1540, by Giulio Clovio. His day is today.
Died (alas!) on this day in 1578, Giulio Clovio of Croatia, great miniaturist of the Italian renaissance. He did small what Michelangelo did large. Here, by himself (with his dog!) in 1528. @theframeblog.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Died (alas!) on this day in 1578, Giulio Clovio of Croatia, great miniaturist of the Italian renaissance. He did small what Michelangelo did large. Here, by himself (with his dog!) in 1528. @theframeblog.bsky.social
Cold day where you are? Elegant Dutch folks of the Golden Age had no problems with that! A+ ice sailboats bc of course. Dogs also having fine time. By Adam van Breen, whose day was today.
January 5, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Cold day where you are? Elegant Dutch folks of the Golden Age had no problems with that! A+ ice sailboats bc of course. Dogs also having fine time. By Adam van Breen, whose day was today.
Cold times skating, kolfing, sailing, & falling on a frozen river, 1611, with Adam van Breen of Amsterdam (& later Oslo). Today is his day.
January 4, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Cold times skating, kolfing, sailing, & falling on a frozen river, 1611, with Adam van Breen of Amsterdam (& later Oslo). Today is his day.
Five soldiers ready for drill with pike & shield, from 1618 drill book illustrated by Adam van Breen. Today is his day.
January 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Five soldiers ready for drill with pike & shield, from 1618 drill book illustrated by Adam van Breen. Today is his day.
Social life on a frozen Dutch river during the “little ice age.” As temperatures rose, painter Adam van Breen packed up & moved to Oslo where it still froze! Today is his day.
January 4, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Social life on a frozen Dutch river during the “little ice age.” As temperatures rose, painter Adam van Breen packed up & moved to Oslo where it still froze! Today is his day.
Prince Maurits & his entourage, come to watch skating on the hofvijver. Should put on skates & join the winter fun! By Adam van Breen, whose day is today, in 1618.
January 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Prince Maurits & his entourage, come to watch skating on the hofvijver. Should put on skates & join the winter fun! By Adam van Breen, whose day is today, in 1618.
Skating and sailing on the ice, on a cold winter's day, with Adam van Breen of Amsterdam and later Oslo. His day is today.
January 4, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Skating and sailing on the ice, on a cold winter's day, with Adam van Breen of Amsterdam and later Oslo. His day is today.
Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Adam van Breen. Chronicler of the little ice age. Here, elegant persons (and a few less elegant) enjoying the hard freeze in 1615.
January 4, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Adam van Breen. Chronicler of the little ice age. Here, elegant persons (and a few less elegant) enjoying the hard freeze in 1615.
For your winter romance: Cupid on skates, 1701, drawn by Jacob Toorenvliet. Today was his day.
January 3, 2026 at 11:11 PM
For your winter romance: Cupid on skates, 1701, drawn by Jacob Toorenvliet. Today was his day.
Woman out to buy fish for dinner, but looks like a set-up for murder to me! Dog and child will be the witnesses. By Jacob Toorenvliet of Leiden, d. OTD 1719.
January 3, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Woman out to buy fish for dinner, but looks like a set-up for murder to me! Dog and child will be the witnesses. By Jacob Toorenvliet of Leiden, d. OTD 1719.
Dutch world traveler Carel Quina, holding compass over Asia Minor in atlas & w/ Saint Peter's behind him. Painted 1669 by Jacob Toorenvliet.
January 3, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Dutch world traveler Carel Quina, holding compass over Asia Minor in atlas & w/ Saint Peter's behind him. Painted 1669 by Jacob Toorenvliet.
Group of Dutch Jews debating Hebrew texts: a super unusual subject painted around 1680 by Jacob Toorenvliet. Today is his day.
January 3, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Group of Dutch Jews debating Hebrew texts: a super unusual subject painted around 1680 by Jacob Toorenvliet. Today is his day.
Spaniel: I just want to ask a few questions about your life as a giant red-headed bird. Turkey: I am too important for interviews. 1667 by Jacob Toorenvliet, whose day is today.
January 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Spaniel: I just want to ask a few questions about your life as a giant red-headed bird. Turkey: I am too important for interviews. 1667 by Jacob Toorenvliet, whose day is today.
Boys singing, one cleverly reading the broadside upside down. Important to get those words right! By Jacob Toorenvliet, who died (alas!) OTD in 1719.
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Boys singing, one cleverly reading the broadside upside down. Important to get those words right! By Jacob Toorenvliet, who died (alas!) OTD in 1719.
Surgeon binding woman's arm after bleeding her, 1666. The joys of medical treatment in the Golden Age! Plus, a dog in the surgery, because always a dog. By Jacob Toorenvliet, whose day is today.
January 3, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Surgeon binding woman's arm after bleeding her, 1666. The joys of medical treatment in the Golden Age! Plus, a dog in the surgery, because always a dog. By Jacob Toorenvliet, whose day is today.