January 6 is the birthday of the great French painter and engraver GUSTAVE DORÉ (1832-1883).

Doré "was a French printmaker, illustrator, painter, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor. He is best known for his prolific output of wood-engravings illustrating classic literature, especially those for the Vulgate Bible and Dante's Divine Comedy. These achieved great international success, and he became renowned for printmaking, although his role was normally as the designer only; at the height of his career some 40 block-cutters were employed to cut his drawings onto the wooden printing blocks, usually also signing the image.” (Wikipedia)

To see samples of Doré’s work, CLICK HERE.

January 6 is the birthday of Belgian architect VICTOR HORTA (1861-1947).

Horta "was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. He was a fervent admirer of the French architectural theorist Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and his Hôtel Tassel in Brussels (1892–93), often considered the first Art Nouveau house, is based on the work of Viollet-le-Duc. The curving stylized vegetal forms that Horta used in turn influenced many others, including the French architect Hector Guimard, who used it in the first Art Nouveau apartment building he designed in Paris and in the entrances he designed for the Paris Metro. He is also considered a precursor of modern architecture for his open floor plans and his innovative use of iron, steel and glass." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Horta’s work, CLICK HERE.

January 6 is the birthday of "The King of the Cowboys,” TOM MIX (1880-1940).

Mix "was an American film actor and the star of many early Western films between 1909 and 1935. He appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent films. He was one of Hollywood's first Western stars and helped define the genre as it emerged in the early days of the cinema." (Wikipedia)

January 6 is the birthday of Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist KAHIL GIBRAN (1883-1931).

"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one."

Gibran "is best known as the author of The Prophet, which was first published in the United States in 1923 and has since become one of the best-selling books of all time, having been translated into more than 100 languages." (Wikipedia)

January 6 is the birthday of American banjo player EARL SCRUGGS (1924-2012).

Scruggs "was an American musician noted for popularizing a three-finger banjo picking style, now called 'Scruggs style,' which is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His three-finger style of playing was radically different from the traditional way the five-string banjo had previously been played. This new style of playing became popular and elevated the banjo from its previous role as a background rhythm instrument to featured solo status. He popularized the instrument across several genres of music." (Wikipedia)