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.
Grotesque bodily dismemberment by artist as well as by dragon here, as Cornelis van Haarlem paints sad fate of followers of Cadmus, 1588. A hugely successful composition, in case you wondered!
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Grotesque bodily dismemberment by artist as well as by dragon here, as Cornelis van Haarlem paints sad fate of followers of Cadmus, 1588. A hugely successful composition, in case you wondered!
Falling man: Ixion, 1580s, by Cornelis van Haarlem, artist with a pretty wild bodily imagination. Today is his day.
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Falling man: Ixion, 1580s, by Cornelis van Haarlem, artist with a pretty wild bodily imagination. Today is his day.
Died (alas!) on this day in 1638, in Haarlem, the eponymous Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem. Here looking curious about himself, by himself, as a young man in 1588.
November 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Died (alas!) on this day in 1638, in Haarlem, the eponymous Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem. Here looking curious about himself, by himself, as a young man in 1588.
Francis Matthew Schutz, being sick in his bed. Commissioned by Schutz's wife as a warning to him against drunkenness! By William Hogarth, whose day has been today.
November 11, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Francis Matthew Schutz, being sick in his bed. Commissioned by Schutz's wife as a warning to him against drunkenness! By William Hogarth, whose day has been today.
Stunning portrait of a woman in a plumed blue hat from 1740 by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697. Totally love this one.
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Stunning portrait of a woman in a plumed blue hat from 1740 by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697. Totally love this one.
The Graham children, with their toys and (of course) their pets. Portrayed in 1742 by William Hogarth, whose day has been today.
November 11, 2025 at 12:53 AM
The Graham children, with their toys and (of course) their pets. Portrayed in 1742 by William Hogarth, whose day has been today.
2/2 Hannah Ranby, looking very grown up in her pearl choker, and painted in 1748 by William Hogarth.
November 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
2/2 Hannah Ranby, looking very grown up in her pearl choker, and painted in 1748 by William Hogarth.
Cute baby pix of the past: Gerard Anne Edwards Hamilton in his cradle, 1733. Has A+ doll in its own kiddie walker! And nice dog. By William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Cute baby pix of the past: Gerard Anne Edwards Hamilton in his cradle, 1733. Has A+ doll in its own kiddie walker! And nice dog. By William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
2/2 End of the “rake’s progress” is Bedlam. Varieties of madness, watched (horribly) by genteel tourists. By William Hogarth, whose day is today.
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
2/2 End of the “rake’s progress” is Bedlam. Varieties of madness, watched (horribly) by genteel tourists. By William Hogarth, whose day is today.
Sarah Malcolm murdered three women in 1733 and was sketched in her prison cell, before being hanged, by William Hogarth. Anybody know another example of a prison portrait? I don't.
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Sarah Malcolm murdered three women in 1733 and was sketched in her prison cell, before being hanged, by William Hogarth. Anybody know another example of a prison portrait? I don't.
Southwark Fair apparently included the Trojan Horse as well as acrobats, a female drummer, and other A+ attractions. As described in 1733 by William Hogarth, whose birthday is today.
November 10, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Southwark Fair apparently included the Trojan Horse as well as acrobats, a female drummer, and other A+ attractions. As described in 1733 by William Hogarth, whose birthday is today.
2/2 Studies of a few less serious heads by Hogarth from back in 1733.
November 10, 2025 at 8:09 PM
2/2 Studies of a few less serious heads by Hogarth from back in 1733.
Studies of his six servants in the 1750s: masterful oil sketch by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697.
November 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Studies of his six servants in the 1750s: masterful oil sketch by William Hogarth, who was born on this day in 1697.
2/2 When mighty Roast Beef was the Englishman's food, It ennobled our brains and enriched our blood. Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good: A little anti-vegetarian (& anti-French) ditty brought to you by William Hogarth.
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
2/2 When mighty Roast Beef was the Englishman's food, It ennobled our brains and enriched our blood. Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good: A little anti-vegetarian (& anti-French) ditty brought to you by William Hogarth.
Singing and smoking with Captain Lord George Graham in his Cabin 1745. Wig's off -- but dog at the right is wearing it instead! Painted by William Hogarth, born OTD in 1697.
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Singing and smoking with Captain Lord George Graham in his Cabin 1745. Wig's off -- but dog at the right is wearing it instead! Painted by William Hogarth, born OTD in 1697.
2/2 Dolls' Tea Party, 1730, w/ non-cooperation of pup. Another ridiculously cute scene by normally sharp & satirical William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
2/2 Dolls' Tea Party, 1730, w/ non-cooperation of pup. Another ridiculously cute scene by normally sharp & satirical William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
Great house of cards, assembled by five children w/ cooperation of their v good dog, & painted by William Hogarth. He was born OTD 1697.
November 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Great house of cards, assembled by five children w/ cooperation of their v good dog, & painted by William Hogarth. He was born OTD 1697.
2/2 Countess's husband, in his curling-papers, sips his morning chocolate. Possibly the most ridiculous-looking man in 18th-century painting. Or ever. Well done, William Hogarth, & happy birthday!.JPG
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
2/2 Countess's husband, in his curling-papers, sips his morning chocolate. Possibly the most ridiculous-looking man in 18th-century painting. Or ever. Well done, William Hogarth, & happy birthday!.JPG
Marriage a-la-Mode, 1743: reception during Countess Squanderfield's morning toilette. Paintings on walls hint that she is not exactly respectable! By William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Marriage a-la-Mode, 1743: reception during Countess Squanderfield's morning toilette. Paintings on walls hint that she is not exactly respectable! By William Hogarth, born OTD 1697.
2/2 Co-starring the dog. Whose name, I regret to say, was Trump!
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
2/2 Co-starring the dog. Whose name, I regret to say, was Trump!
Born on this day in 1697, in London, painter and satirist William Hogarth. Here by himself, with his pug (good man!), in 1745.
November 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Born on this day in 1697, in London, painter and satirist William Hogarth. Here by himself, with his pug (good man!), in 1745.
Windmill silhouetted against moonlight. By Aert van der Neer at the end of his day. Good night.
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Windmill silhouetted against moonlight. By Aert van der Neer at the end of his day. Good night.
Nighttime along the estuary. So quiet. But no, there is a family at right, with a dog yet! Get your child to bed, parents! So says Aert van der Neer, whose day was today.
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Nighttime along the estuary. So quiet. But no, there is a family at right, with a dog yet! Get your child to bed, parents! So says Aert van der Neer, whose day was today.
2/2 Not much playing on the ice on this frigid winter day. People just trying to get to a warm home. By Aert van der neer, d. OTD 1677.
November 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
2/2 Not much playing on the ice on this frigid winter day. People just trying to get to a warm home. By Aert van der neer, d. OTD 1677.
Skaters in winter, 1650s. I only see one person actually wearing iceskates. When did they become the norm? By Aert van der Neer, whose day is today.
November 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Skaters in winter, 1650s. I only see one person actually wearing iceskates. When did they become the norm? By Aert van der Neer, whose day is today.