Giuseppe Arcimboldo Painting Reproductions Gallery 1 of 2

Giuseppe Arcimboldo was an Italian Renaissance painter who was born in Milan in 1527. He was the son of Biagio Arcimboldo, a painter, and is believed to have been trained by his father.

Arcimboldo's early career involved working as a designer for stained glass windows in Milan. He then moved to the court of the Habsburgs in Vienna in 1562, where he worked as court painter for Emperor Maximilian II. During his time in Vienna, Arcimboldo produced a number of allegorical paintings and portraits of the imperial family, many of which were highly unusual in their composition and subject matter.

Arcimboldo returned to Milan in 1568 and continued to work as a court painter, this time for the Spanish Governor of Milan, Diego de Oropesa. He produced a series of paintings known as the Four Seasons, which are perhaps his most famous works. These paintings are composed entirely of fruits, vegetables, and other natural objects, arranged to create the image of a human head.

In addition to his allegorical paintings and portraits, Arcimboldo also produced a number of works that were more explicitly humorous or satirical. One example is his painting The Librarian, which shows a figure made entirely of books and other reading materials.

Arcimboldo's work fell out of favor after his death in 1593, and it was not until the 20th century that he was rediscovered and recognized as a significant artist. His work has since been the subject of numerous exhibitions and scholarly studies.

Today, Arcimboldo is remembered as a master of the grotesque and a pioneer of surrealism, whose imaginative and inventive works continue to captivate and intrigue audiences.