Peter Paul Rubens was a world-renowned painter of fleshy nudes — and a diplomat, spy and covert operative. His success as a diplomat was predicated on a combination of the high esteem in which he was held internationally and by his own great intelligence. Whatever one thinks about the timing of the Nobel, or of Obama generally, it’s hard to deny he shares these characteristics.

You heard me. Aside from being an object of reverence fo millions and having a rather shayna punim, these two have something very specific in common.