The Astonishing Art of Arcimboldo

Rudolf II - Holy Roman Emperor - Wikimedia

You meet them sometimes: people who just seem to have been born out of their time, somehow not quite at home or comfortable in the time period in which they find themselves. As far as his art is concerned, this is certainly the case with Giuseppe Arcimboldo (left).

You might, unless you know his work already, think that the above was created at some point in the twentieth century.

Reversible Head with Basket of Fruit, c 1590 - Wikimedia

Yet Arcimboldo was born in 1527. His conventional works have fallen in to oblivion but what survive are his masterful and imaginative portraits which are made from objects, such as fruit, flowers, fish, books and vegetables. These everyday items are arranged so that they become recognizable as something quite different.

Winter - Extraordinary Fibreglass Sculpture by Philip Haas

Image Credit Flickr User Evelyn Proimos

Visitors to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC have been perplexed and astonished by the latest addition there.  To celebrate an exhibition of the works of sixteenth century artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo - and cerainly in homage to the bizarre nature of the Renaissance artist, Philip Haas has created Winter a five meter high fibreglass scultpure.

Image  Credit Flickr User Seabamirum

I am not really sure I should say this, but the word Ent immediately sprang to mind - I know this is hardly how Tolkien imagined the giant shepherds of the trees yet I at once thought of them when I saw Haas' work. 

Image Credit Wikimedia

He is an American artist, best known for his film intallations at the Kimbell Art Museum.  Known as Butchers, Dragons, Gods and Skeletons it was hailed as one of the best shows of 2009.  Ge gas also had retrospectives of his art films at the Tate in London, the Pompidou in Paris and the Lincoln in New York among others.

Image Credit Flickr User bobosh_t

He also made a feature film which was nominated for an Oscar, Angels and Insects as well as others including The Music of Chance and Up at the Villa.  This year and in 2008 he presented one-man shows at the Sonnabed in New york.  His new, extraordinary piece, is surely one of the best works of art of 2010.

Image Credit Flickr User boosh_t

Winter, which was unveiled in September 2010 is something quite magnificent.  A human head of (apparently) bark, dead branches, twigs, and covered with moss, fungi, vines, and ivy the object is both out of the ordinary and expressive.

Image Credit Flickr User CP Thornton

It was inspired by Arcimboldo's 1563 painting of the same name, which we reproduce below.  Art as imitation indeed, but what a magnificent imitation of centuries old inspiration.

Image Credit Wikimedia

As you can see the scultpure is a remarkably accurate and faithful reproduction of the original oil on canvas.  Watch out for an upcoming Kuriositas feature on the life and works of Arcimboldo.  In way of anticipation we will leave you with one of our favorite works by this artist who truly was centuries ahead of his time -

Image Credit Wikimdia