Arcimboldo, 1526-1593: Nature and Fantasy

A man who certainly qualifies as one of the most original artists in history, Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1526-93) turned many a head with his unusual portraits of emperors and their courtiers - unusual, because Arcimboldo decided to forsake realism for caricature, with heads and busts comprised entirely of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Contrary to what one might expect, these feats earned Arcimboldo high praise and favor, In lieu of a beheading or jail sentence, and simultaneously revealed the depth and breadth of the painter's influence by the Age of Exploration. As narrated by Isabella Rossellini, this program examines Arcimboldo's colorful life and inimitable work, not simply as a court painter, but as a depicter of nature and a festival creator as well.