"I would rather be the first painter of common things than second in higher art." —Diego Velázquez

Today we celebrate the birthday of master realist painter Diego Velázquez (June 6, 1599), which brings to mind the exhibition currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (as highlighted in the Must-See Shows section in our June issue): El Greco to Velazquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III. Running through July 27, the show includes Spanish paintings, sculpture and decorative arts created from 1598 to 1621—by both lesser-known artists as well as the legends El Greco and Velázquez.

If you can’t make it to Boston, check out the MFA’s exhibition web extras (podcasts, mobile phone wallpapers, slide show images) here.