Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria on horseback

 Salvete Omnes,

Peter Snayers pinxit

I already posted one Ferdinand Hapsburg , the joint- victor of Nordlingen 1634, hence it behooves me to post these portraits of cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria. They were painted by many masters of brush and oil paint.

Let us start with this one by Gaspar de Crayer

and other famous masters of the ear - don Velazquez, maestro Rubes,

Diego Velazquez pinxit

Rubens or his atelier pinxit

Jan van den Hoecke pinxit

Cornelisu Schut pinxit

Alexander Voet I fecit

now, this portrait is accredited to Adam Franois/Frans van der Meulen (1632-1690 ) while whereas our Cardinal-Infante died in 1641.
So this is an imaginary portrait I suppose

 

this bridle is adjusted above the browband

large padding under the saddle?

Valete

Ambrogio Spinola Doria - maestro of war

 Salvete Omnes,

the clouds of war seem, according to the msn media and respective governments, to be hanging menacing low over the steppes  and shores of Ukraine, Belarus and Russian Federation in the east of Europe (and east of that funny union), and with mysharonacirrus-19 laid to rest (tell it to a certain, fancy socks wearing, prime minister of Canada and his afficionados ), let me share some images showing  one hell of a command master - XVII century condottiero/condottiere Ambrogio Spinola Doria from Genoa and in the service of the Crown of Spain. 

early (1609AD) portrait by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt

  - surrender of Breda detail - by Diego de Velazquez, 

Surrender of Julich/Juliers details - by Jose Leonardo

and another surrender of Julich by Peter Snayers

and a print by Crispin de Passe

and another, later  1628AD,  portrait by maestro van Dyck

Valete

Saint George Feast Day

Salvete Omnes,

the 'evil dragon' with its foul breath has descended upon our world, and whom we should call to help?

Saint George would probably be our best champion and defender.



 
 
 
Saint George was a martyr and  here is one of many painting showing his martyrdom


 Nota bene the Old Poland's Podolian fortress city - now in Ukraine -
 
Kamieniec Podolski had Saint George spearing the dragon as the coat of arms until 1793, or the 2nd Partition of Poland.


Valete

Three Kings Day -

Salvete Omnes
so today we have the fine feast day of Magi (Epiphany)- Three Kings and their Adoration of Baby Jesus.
I am mixing some images for this occasion -
so first Adoration piece by one of my favorite painters of all times - Peter Paul Rubens.. housed at the Royal Museum at Antwerp.

Rubens' Adoration

interesting portrayal of a curb-bit and reins - XVII century horsemanship

 

long-shanks of this curb-bit

and a bit of anachronism  as find below several images of the Parthenon frieze - ancient Athenian cavalcade 'honoring' the Holy Family on this Epiphany feast day.

valete!

Peter Paul Rubens - Baroque horse head

Salve,
I admire the art created by one of the greatest painters of all times, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens.  I admire his work more than that of Rembrandt.
I guess it is the matter of taste, as the saying goes de gustibus et coloribus non disputandum est..

 Great drawing of a Baroque horse, saddled and bridled with a curb-bit, but curiously no stirrups nor reins.

Motivated by the winter weather around us I selected some horses from his paintings,  admirable portrayals of our equine companion.

Their bridles are  mostly with long-shanked curb-bits

 And this Pegasus :)

enjoy
by the way - a beautiful representation of a Ottoman Turkish costume  in this portrait, and fantastic Persian (?) carpet beneath gentleman's feet

...
ps
images from Wikimedia Commons - the first painting is titled Saint George and the Dragon, painted  1606-1610.