Dr. Peter Paul Rubens

Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Quinten Metsys, first superstar painter of my hometown of Antwerp. Here, resting on the flight into Egypt, with Joseph looking very concerned about baby J’s nutrition.

Virgin, Child, lamb: Quinten Metsys having a bit of a Leonardo moment in a Patinir landscape, 1513. Today is his day.

The ever well-dressed Mathäus Schwartz, playing his lute in 1526, and painted by Hans Maler whose day is today.

Anne of Hungary & Bohemia, wearing a truly fine bejeweled hat (as was her wont) in 1519. By Hans Maler. It’s his day.

Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, in his youth, but after Habsburg jaw has made its full appearance. Hans Maler, whoe day is today, could not disguise this fact!

2/2 It would have been so simple for poor Ferdinand to adopt a chin clout like this woman of the Klammer von Weydach family, modeling the fashion in 1485 for Hans Maler.

Anne of Bohemia, wearing an A+ outfit w/ super pendant hat ornament (distracting when walking!). Also fine lapdog. By Hans Maler, whose day is today.

Today’s artist without a (known) birthday: Hans Maler zu Schwaz. Here, strong portrait of Moritz Weltzer von Eberstein, wearing a most excellent hat in 1524.

Continuing Picasso's-obsession-with-Rembrandt theme for the former's birthday, this wonderful painting is Rembrandt and Saskia. Supposedly.

Pablo Picasso was constantly reenvisioning Velazquez's Las Meninas. If you must be obsessed with a painting, that's a good one! Picasso, friend of the Old Masters: his day is today.

Co-starring in Las Meninas: Maria Agustina Sarmiento, as originally painted by Velazquez and then as revised by Picasso in 1957. He did love that painting! And today is his day.

Pablo Picasso was constantly reenvisioning Velazquez's Las Meninas. If you must be obsessed with a painting, that's a good one! Picasso, friend of the Old Masters: his day is today.

Born on this day in 1881, in Málaga, Pablo Picasso. A bit after my time, but he loved the Old Masters so we love him back! Here, old painter, young baby.

In 1971 Pablo Picasso, aged 90, imagined himself as a young painter. It's his 145th birthday today. Still young!

Pile of worn, aged books, formerly attributed to Rembrandt but now the Rijksmuseum says Jan Lievens. And today is his day. So sit down & study!

Stunning painting of an old man. Just perfect -- sensitive, moving, beautiful, human. By Jan Lievens, who was born OTD in 1607.

A most learned lady (& artist): Anna Maria van Schurman, painted in 1649 by Jan Lievens. Today is his day.

Constantijn Huygens thought that Jan Lievens was a better portraitist than Rembrandt. In 1629, Lievens painted his friend to test it. Not bad. Today is Lievens's day.

Beautiful study of a young girl in profile, painted by Jan Lievens of Leiden. He was born on this day in 1607.