I really hope they act on this and give winter sports much more coverage overall throughout the year. I’m a huge ice hockey fan but I can really only enjoy it once every four years on UK TV.
Looking right at you from the center of her ravishing lace collar: a woman, painted by Frans Pourbus the Younger. Today was his day.
Today's artist wout a (known) birthday: Adriaen Brouwer. Expert in depicting rough people in a rough style. I loved his work! Here, Smokers, w/ sly self portrait at right, 1636.
Swedish Soldiers, Frankfurt, 1631 Valentin Wagner (Albertina, Vienna)
I think it’s respectful to the other contributors on your panel. The worst experience I ever had was when I was only allowed to speak for 8 minutes (rather than 20) because a TV historian overran by a wide margin and I was effectively pushed aside.
Woman & child napping near a pasture, by Jan Siberechts of Antwerp. Today was his day.
Frozen canal, Herman Saftleven, c. 1624-1685.
Tranquil and lively at the same time.
And very cold.
(British Museum)
In case you had forgotten that time is fleeting & we will all die, this fellow from 1531 is here to remind you. Painted by Barthel Bruyn, whose day was today.
Very cold weather in Antwerp but the skating is good & we've got a fire going on the bank for the non-skaters. By Lucas van Valckenborch, d. OTD 1597.
Very energetic display of carrots at this produce stall in 1665. Painted by Quirijn van Brekelenkam of Leiden. It’s his day.
Portrait miniature of a now unknown woman,
Isaac Oliver, c. 1605-1625
(Victoria & Albert Museum, London)
Lady in “Persian” costume, accompanied by doleful stag: cryptic portrait (of who? why?) from 1600 by Marcus Gheeraerts, whose day is today.
With added lug warmers 😁
Archer-Butler Luck Stone
Originally owned by the Butler family of Garnavilla, near Cahir, Co. Tipperary & used to protect cattle from disease. Dipped in drinking water or hung from the neck of a cow. The crystal ball is 200g, frame ?17th century. (Hunt Museum, #Limerick)
Girl pays attention to mum's lesson, brother plays w/ dog. His comic, top, & knuckle-bone litter the floor. I like that kid! Family life in the 1670s from Caspar Netscher, whose day is today.
Major fashion statement of 1630: the cartwheel ruff, here worn by an unknown woman and painted by Nicolaes Pickenoy, born OTD 1588.
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for connecting with me on Bluesky!
I am passionate about early modern history and I look forward to sharing early modern themed posts with you all this year.
I look forward to interacting with you all in 2026!
Still Life with Books, Sheet Music, Violin, Celestial Globe and an Owl,
Jacob van Campen, 1645 - 1650 (Rijksmuseum)
Happy days at university. This was constantly played in the student newspaper office. We all lined up and danced together. I miss the UK in the 90s.
Skating, playing, and a lot of falling on the ice near Amsterdam, as painted by Hans Bol. He was born on this day in 1534.
A broadside against coffee. London, 1672.
Folger Library J147.
Died (alas!) on this day in 1681, in Deventer, the brilliant Gerard ter Borch. Most professionally successful of whole family of enthusiastic artists. We recently saw his sister Gesina; today is his day.
Wall Clock, so-called Plate Clock c. 1661 Gilded silver, amethyst, jasper, turquoises, wax (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien)
2/2 Motherly care: searching her child’s head for lice, in 1652. The original nit-picker! By Gerard ter Borch, whose day is today.
Fine, fierce leopard, painted by Maerten de Vos, who died on this day in 1603. With maybe a little idol-worship happening beyond his tail.
Good morning! Gathering for the hunt in front of an inn within the ruins, because that's just how it was in 1650s Italy. Or so we are assured by Jan Miel, whose day is today.
I prefer this version to the original.
Sunlight falls through windows, adding to the geometric pattern on floor. A woman is playing music. And a man listens from the shadowed bed. Painted by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.
