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Laurel Van Driest

@laurelvandriest.bsky.social
48 followers 23 following 808 posts

“An excellent curator of interesting random things”—Dana “Too entertaining to be insufferable”—Sheila

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Reposted by Laurel Van Driest
Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
2/2 Clearly a very important man with that heavy gold chain, c. 1520. By Bernard van Orley.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Portrait of a young man wearing a fascinating fur in c. 1520. By Bernard van Orley of Brussels, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
2/2 In my Adoration, the African king is wearing an entire Bird of Paradise on his turban and looking quite happy about it.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Magnificent Adoration of the Kings. Painted by me in 1609 for the city of Antwerp, given by the city to the Spanish king, and revised by me in 1629 when I visited it in Spain. #Epiphany #TwelfthNight
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
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.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
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.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Cornelis and Michiel Pompe van Meerdervoort with their tutor and their Coachman (because of course) and DOGS. Painted by Aelbert Cuyp, whose day is today.
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Laurel Van Driest @laurelvandriest.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Nothing. Crickets. Interesting.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Cold day! Woman warming her hands over a pot of coals, painted by Caesar van Everdingen, 1646.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
3/3 The gorgeous renaissance geometry of Piero della Francesca in Arezzo.
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Laurel Van Driest @laurelvandriest.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Miracles can be very helpful.
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Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Gorgeous, spooky friend from my collection. No date/info.
Black and white photo of a black medium haired cat lying on grass, looking up at the camera. It looks like it has pure white eyes with no pupils but it’s just light blow out.
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
When does death begin? In the 18th century, no one could agree—some said when the pulse stopped, others when the body began to rot. Out of that debate came a century of strange experiments on severed heads. Learn more in our kids’ book DEAD ENDS (w/ @tealcartoons.bsky.social): shorturl.at/FS3nd
A cartoon by Adrian Teal that depicts a guillotine and a severed head, with a modern-looking doctor holding a stethoscope to the head. The cover of DEAD ENDS featuring a cartoon man being electrocuted back to life
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Federico da Montefeltro (of the famous nose) & his lovely wife Battista Sforza. Frozen in time in their perfect profiles, in 1470, by Piero della Francesca.
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Laurel Van Driest @laurelvandriest.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Naomi Novik, The Summer War “All right,” Celia said. “Yes, I’ll care if you’ll care,” and she stood up and put her hand out, and he put his out, and they shook on the bargain.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
2/2 Some glorious spare flowers hanging from a blue ribbon. By Carstian Luyckx of Antwerp, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Could that be my portrait that's been so nicely garlanded by Carstian Luyckx? I'm honored! And today is his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
2/2 Time for the skulls! Just can't get enough of them.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Animated skeleton just hanging out with his similarly dead friends and their favorite stuff in this bizarre memento mori by Carstiaen Luycks. It's his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
2/2 Imitate Christ. And collect sea shells! Sure that's the lesson here from Carstiaen Luyckx, on his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
The sea, the air, the earth, and death. Starring wonderful globe (take a look at where Canada is) from the 1660s, by Carstian Luyckx. Today is his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
2/2 Is that a pineapple? No, it's a very strange metal vessel tipped over amidst the real fruit. Plus a nautilus shell. All by Carstiaen Luyckx.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Wildly opulent assemblage of materials, tastes, and reflections in this interrupted meal depicted by Carstian Luyckx in 1650. It's his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
2/2 Cat nabs dead bird from cruel still-life painter's arrangement. At least, I'd like to think that's what happened! By Carstiaen Luycks.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Four springer spaniels, plus hawk, just hanging out with their booty from the hunt. By Carstian Luyckx of Antwerp, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
2/2 Gorgeous flowers collected in a glass vase, plus what appear to be some glaceed cherries. And butterflies. By Carstiaen Luyckx.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Rosary garland of flowers (mostly roses) around Madonna & child. By Carstian Luyckx, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Henrietta Maria and the late lamented Charles I star, appropriately, in a fab Vanitas painting by Carstian Luyckx of Antwerp. It's been his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
2/2 Agostino Novello zooming in again to revive child who's been attacked by a mad dog. I feel sure this attack was not unprovoked! Poor dog! By Simone Martini of Siena, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Blessed Agostino Novello to the rescue, in Miracle of the baby who fell from the balcony. Saint has even snagged the loose board on his way to save bambino. A+ aerial gymnastics!As immortalized in 1324 by Simone Martini.
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Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Target: ACQUIRED. This is Tom Foolery and he's available for adoption in South Burlington, VT! He's very sweet and loves people ,but he's prone to overstimulation so he will need a cat-savvy adopter who understands kitty body language. www.hsccvt.org/Cats#sl_embe...
Photo of a shorthaired grey tabby cat looking at a feather toy that is sitting on top of an ottoman. He's peeking over the edge about to pounce.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Fantastic ruins in a forest. Imagine what this building once was! By Jacob Grimmer of Antwerp whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
2/2 And here's Abel Grimmer, also showing that the family can be flexible with different genres: church interior with Franciscan preaching in 1606.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
3/3 Peter and John heal the lame in a fantastical temple, 1593. By Abel Grimmer, trying out a new architectural style. Pretty wild!
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
2/2 Plein air banquet for the elite, sheep dipping for the peasants: how it was in 1590, according to Jacob Grimmer. It’s been his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Today's artist(s) without a (known) birthday have been Jacob Grimmer & his son Abel of Antwerp. Painters of landscapes & activities of people in them. Here from Jacob, courtly leisure outside palace, w/ zodiac.
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Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Fear not, Francie’s here with the nightly bingus report.
Photo of my fluffy white cat Francie lying asleep in my arms with one forepaw draped over my forearm. I’m a white lady westing pink satin pajamas with large black polka dots.
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 05/11/2024
At the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, the latest in scientific innovation was presented. I present to you: George Merryweather's "TEMPEST PROGNOSTICATOR" which uses leeches to predict approaching storms. 12 leeches are arranged in pint bottles around the central pillar with a bell.
A replica Tempest Prognosticator at the Whitby Museum, Whitby, UK. The tempest prognosticator was a weather forecasting system which attempted to predict storms with leeches trapped inside glass jars. An approaching storm was supposed to cause the leeches to climb chains dangling in the jars. The leeches climbing up the the chains caused bells to ring and warn of an approaching tempest. The device was invented in the 19th-century by George Merryweather.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
2/2 And now, the actors have entered the stage! Still big and dark, but now animated by people, and still painted by Anthonie de Lorme.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Haunting vacant basilica, illuminated by just six candles. Wonderfully complex space by Anthonie de Lorme, whose day was today.
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Jayson Blair @silverliningshandbook.com · 18/09/2025
Ashley Loring Heavyrunner vanished from the Blackfeet Reservation at 20. In a bonus episode, I talk to Cameron Santana of @Santanacrime about her case from Montana—meeting a suspect, exploring theories, and exposing the barriers to justice. 🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/3Is82AS
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
2/2 Man with his dead birds. Not what I would choose for my portrait but I'm sure it suited him. Painted by Abraham Hondius.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Pigeon seller: masterful work by Abraham Hondius who could really paint when he set his mind to it, Today is his day.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Extreme hunting, bear edition, 1672. Compliments of Abraham Hondius, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Drama of mankind confronting rather small yet scary beast in this wild boar hunt by Abraham Hondius. He's definitely been looking at my own hunting scenes. Wise! Today is his day.
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
The oldest-surviving anatomical theatre in the world, built in 1594 and located in Padua. At the center stands a table on which the dissections of human or animal bodies took place. You can still visit it today. Photo: Daily Art Magazine.
An anatomical theatre featuring stadium seating with wooden railings. At the centre is a table on which dissections would have taken place.
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Wadi-us-Salaam [Valley of Peace] is a cemetery located in the holy city of Najaf in the Western part of Central Iraq. It is considered to be one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in the world, containing over six million bodies.
A photo of the cemetery, stacked with stone graves on either side of a long avenue. It is very crowded with tombstones.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
2/2 Swan enraged by dogs. More distressed animals courtesy of Abraham Hondius of Rotterdam and London, whose day is today.
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Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Abraham Hondius of Rotterdam and London. Painter of cruelty & conflict in nature. Here, from 1673, a bear hunt in which nobody is having a good time.
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
The buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala) has mastered a very particular kind of camouflage. When they close their wings up, they resemble a broken twig. Native to large parts of Europe, there's regional pattern variation that reflects the local tree species. This one best resembles birch twigs?
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