1527
–
1593
Giuseppe Arcimboldo was an Italian Mannerist painter best known for his imaginative portrait heads composed of objects like fruits, vegetables, animals, and books. Born in Milan, he served as a court painter to the Habsburg emperors in Vienna and Prague. His series such as The Four Seasons and The Four Elements blend naturalism with surreal fantasy, offering early examples of composite art. Though largely forgotten after his death, Arcimboldo’s work was rediscovered in the 20th century and celebrated by Surrealists like Salvador Dalí. Today, he is admired for his originality and influence on modern conceptual and symbolic art.
