Vertumnus

This piece by Arcimboldo is a portrait of Rudolf II. The Holy Roman Emperor is depicted as Vertumnus, Roman God of the seasons. Arcimboldo was a court painter, decorator, and costume designer of the Habsburg court. Rudolf II Habsburg was a very eccentric ruler; he was more focused on art and science than politics, and he was probably the most bizarre painter at the time. He created portraits out of painted fruits, fish, plants, wood, books and other objects. While he was working at the court he was very popular, but was quickly forgotten after his time. He was ‘found’ again by surrealists in the 20th century, for such painters as Salvador Dali were inspired by his imaginative work. It turns out that Arcimboldo wasn’t eccentric at all, he was just a surrealist of a XVI century.