Guiseppe Arcimboldo:

Artist/Illusionist

Background on the artist● born in 1526, at the end of the Renaissance○ to family of painters, in Northern Italy (Milan)

■ Milan was considered cradle of naturalism = artistic expression based on direct observation of nature

● in 1563, at age 53, he left Italy to work in imperial courts○ worked for 25 years in courts of the Habsburg

rulers as court painter ■ Emperor Ferdinand I■ Emperor Maximilian II in Vienna■ Emperor Rudolf II in Prague

Background on the artist● most known for original “portraits”

○ also designed tapestries, stained glass, costumes

● To celebrate Emperor Maximilian II’s reign, he presented two series of allegorical paintings of composite heads

○ The Four Seasons○ The Elements ○ also created itty composite portraits of

different professions

Why Nature?○ Renaissance■ art considered a means of exploring nature, a

record of discoveries■ time of exploration of new continents

● study of flora and fauna flourished● explorers returned with exotic plants &

animals○ Maximilian II was passionate about biological

sciences (botany and zoology)■ his court became center for scientific study■ had botanical gardens and zoological parks

Why Nature con’t● Arcimboldo has access to the vast collections

of rare plants and animals○ He studied nature & was a knowledgeable

naturalist○ His paintings are a fusion of science and

art

Arcimboldo’s paintings

His Technique● What do his paintings look like at a distance?

● What do they look like up close?

● What do you notice about the materials Arcimboldo uses in his portraits?

Four Seasons, 1572-1573● Arcimboldo

combined plants associated with a particular season to form a portrait

● Winter wears a cloak monogrammed with an M - presumable for MaximilianSPRING

SUMMER

WINTER

AUTUMN

Four Seasons in One Head, 1590

● Winter - gnarled and knotty tree trunk create head and chest, two holes in the trunk form the eyes, a broken branch makes nose, and moss/twigs are the beard

● Spring - Spring flowers decorate the figure’s chest

● Summer- cherries form the ear, plums at the back of the head, cloak of straw draped around the shoulders

● Autumn - Apples, grapes, ivy, the fruit and plants of autumn, top the head.

The Four Elements, 1566

Four Elements, 1566● Earth features a lion skin (reference to the

mythological character Hercules-to whom Hapsburg’s supposedly traced their lineage)

● The nose and ear of Fire are made of fire strikers - one of the imperial family’s symbols; chest is made out of firearms: gun barrels, cannons, and a gunpowder scoop

● Water contains more than sixty different fish and aquatic animals

● Air made up entirely of birds ○ with special prominence given to imperial eagle &

peacock, both symbolize Maximilian & the House of Hapsburg

● Leonardo Da Vinci, 1452-1519 ○ his contemporary○ also shaped by naturalism

Arcimbolo’s Influences

Who Arcimboldo Influenced

● Surrealists○ Salvador Dali○ Bernard Pras○ many more

● Modern Day○ Rock band Kansas - Masque album

cover used his painting, Water○ Tales of Despereaux - movie

Materials

•Self portrait: Color or black and white photo/print • Glue Stick, Scissors, colored pencils• 9 x 12 drawing paper, bristol weight• magazine clippings of food, plants, flowers, nature

Step By Step● Step One: Cut portrait in half and glue to 9 x 12 white

cardstock paper● Step Two: Cut magazine clippings of nature, art, foods, etc.● Step Three: Arrange collage materials to create shapes that

can be combined to create a human head● Step Three

○ start with larger pieces to cover area of the head○ then use smaller pieces to create details and facial

features○ experiment with overlapping pieces, turning them in

various directions● Four: Glue down clippings● Step Five: In pencil, draw in other side to create a mirror image

of portrait● Step Six: Using colored pencils, fill in with color

Student examples

Self - portraits!

Smithsonian presents...

(fun video, longer -- just for background)