Educational Media Reviews Online

Born in 1526 in Milan, Italy, where his father was employed at the cathedral then under construction, artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s earliest works include designs for stained glass windows and woven tapestries. Traveling to Vienna at age 36, Arcimboldo found work as a portrait painter and designer of lavish festivals at the Hapsburg Court of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. It was here at the height of the Age of Exploration that the artist discovered the New World, recording sensitive likenesses of the imported plants, animals and other curiosities amassed in Maximilian’s extensive private museum collections.

At the same time, Arcimboldo began to paint the allegorical heads for which he is best known, ingeniously composed of images of fruits, vegetables, plants, animals and artifacts. One portrait series included Earth, Air, Fire and Water, of which the latter comprises fifty aquatic species, each meticulously and scientifically rendered from life. These and other such works were dedicated to Maximilian, symbolizing the Hapsburgs’ dominion, not only in the political realm, but the natural world as well. Following Maximilian’s death in 1576, Arcimboldo relocated to Prague and the court of Maximilian’s son Rudolph II. In 1590, the artist painted his masterwork depicting Rudolph in the golden age of his reign as Vertumnus, the Roman god of abundance.

Arcimboldo died in 1593, and following a brief flurry of works by imitators, he was largely forgotten. It was not until the 20th century that he was rediscovered by avant-garde intellectuals, notably writer and theorist Andre Breton, who recognized Arcimboldo as an early surrealist. In 1937 Arcimboldo’s work was included in the exhibition Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work was emulated during this period by the likes of Man Ray, Max Ernst and Pablo Picasso.

Produced in conjunction with the 2010/2011 exhibition Arcimboldo, 1526-1593: Nature and Fantasy, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, this short documentary, narrated by Isabella Rossellini, is as well-crafted and rich in imagery and history as any of the artist’s allegorical portraits. Bonus materials include “Exploring Arcimboldo’s Earth” an illustrated discussion of art, nature, science and fantasy; and a narrated slideshow of the many fascinating artworks featured in the film. This beautiful, eye-opening documentary is highly recommended for libraries with collections in art and art history.