Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Emperor Rudolf II was a man of many interests, and politics wasn't the primary of them. As an emperor of the Habsburg empire (the empire on which the sun never sets) he moved the Habsburg capital from Vienna to Prague in 1583. Rudolf loved collecting paintings and was often reported to sit and stare in rapture at new work for hours on end. He spared no expense in acquiring great past masterworks and he was also patron to some of the best contemporary artists. But his love of collecting went far beyond paintings and sculptures. He commissioned decorative objects of all kinds and, in particular, mechanical moving devices. Rudolf also kept a menagerie of exotic animals, botanical gardens, and Europe's most extensive "cabinet of curiosities" (Kunstkammer) incorporating "the three kingdoms of nature and the works of man." It was housed at Prague Castle, where between 1587 and 1605 he built the northern wing to house his growing collections.
Today we present a painting created by the Italian artist of whom Rudolf was a patron: Giuseppe Arcimboldo. In this quite unexpected painting, Rudolf is painted as Vertumnus, the Roman God of the seasons. As you can imagine, Rudolf greatly appreciated the work. The portrait is meant as an imperial allegory, corresponding with Arcimboldo's series of the seasons, with the Emperor here seen as the ruler of them all. The variety of flowers and fruits from all seasons signify that a golden era has returned under the Emperor's rule.
P.S. This stunning masterpiece is featured in one of our best-selling set of postcards: Food and Drinks in Art - 50 Postcards Set. For all the foodies, you can check it out in our DailyArt Shop!
P.P.S. If you like this painting, you have to check out these other fascinating portraits by Giuseppe Arcimboldo!