December 6 is the birthday of Maltese painter, sculptor, and a Carmelite tertiary nun SISTER MARIA DE DOMINICI (1645-1703).

"As a tertiary nun and pinzocchera, De Domenici took vows of chastity and obedience but was not confined to a religious convent and free from ties of contrasts of family ties.

De Dominici ripped up the idea of what 17th Century women were expected to do – that is – submit to their husbands and tend to housework and children.

She worked as a painter for Preti, as an independent artist in her own right and as a sculptor, earning commissions and living independently in Malta and later in Rome, where she died.

Biographies of the nun described her as a fiery woman – strong-minded, stubborn and bold." (Sam Vasallo)

December 6 is the birthday of French magician JEAN EUGÈNE ROBERT-HOUDIN (1805-1861). He transformed magic from a pastime for the lower classes, seen at fairs, to an entertainment for the wealthy, which he offered in a theatre opened in Paris, a legacy preserved by the tradition of modern magicians to perform in tails … Robert-Houdin felt that every magic program should be arranged so one trick builds upon the others. One surprise should lead to an even bigger surprise. Some of the tricks and illusions Robert-Houdin presented became classics.

December 6 is the birthday of the American jazz pianist and composer DAVE BRUBECK (1920-2012). He was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasting rhythms, meters, tonalities, and combining different styles and genres, like classic, jazz, and blues.

December 6 is the birthday of Austrian conductor NIKOLAUS HARNONCOURT (1929-2016). He was known for his historically informed performances. He specialized in music of the Baroque period, but later extended his repertoire to include Classical and early Romantic works. Among his best known recordings are those of Bach, whose 193 cantatas he recorded with Gustav Leonhardt.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On December 6, 1912, the bust of Nefertiti was found.

A German archaeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt discovered the bust in 1912 in Thutmose's workshop. It has been kept at various locations in Germany since its discovery, including the cellar of a bank, a salt-mine in Merkers-Kieselbach, the Dahlem museum, the Egyptian Museum in Charlottenburg and the Altes Museum. It is currently on display at the Neues Museum in Berlin, where it was originally displayed before World War II.