What Did Artists Paint in the 1500's?

What were artists painting 400 years ago?

Portraits, nature? How about a combination of both? With a little humor thrown in to mix it up a bit.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1526-1593, was painting portraits using nature’s bounty as facial features. Whimsical and fantastic best describe this beautiful art.

I had the opportunity to visit an exhibition of his works, the only one offered in the United States, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC before it moves on to Milan. Archimboldo, 1526-1593, Nature and Fantasy, National Gallery of Art, September 19, 2010 – January 9, 2011. This collection consists of 16 pieces from private collections and museums from around the world – Vienna, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm, Skokloster, and Cremona. It is always a great privilege to view an artist’s collection gathered from around the globe into one spot. This exhibition also features well thought out additional works, including drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer, small bronzes, illustrated books and manuscripts, and ceramics, all providing a context for Arcimboldo's art.

On walking towards the entrance to the gallery, East Building, you get your first taste of Arcimboldo in the large two-story banner of his portrait of Rudolf II as Vertumnus, the ancient god of vegetation, announcing the exhibition.

The next inkling of his work is a giant replica of Arcimboldo’s allegorical Winter created by Philip Haas, artist and filmmaker, titled Winter (After Archimboldo) 2010, in collaboration with 20 other artists. Standing sixteen feet tall and made of fiberglass. It was enchanting to stand beneath this amazing sculpture feeling as if you are part of this fantastical world of nature coming to life. Lucky people of Paris, this sculpture will be traveling to the Garden of Versailles.

To listen to an interview with Philip Haas about the process of creating this sculpture, go to:http://www.nga.gov/podcasts/bhts.xml, and search for Winter (after archimboldo) by Philip Haas  It is a very interesting conversation.

On entering the exhibition gallery a hush falls all around and I stand in awe of the gorgeous and rich colors of the portraits hanging on the walls, drawing me ever closer to inspect each detail, every leaf, flower, twig and berry. So amazing to think these are hundreds of years old and yet look as if they were painted yesterday.

Arcimboldo created for Maximilian II a series of allegorical paintings of the Four Seasons and the Four Elements (air, water, fire and earth). Maximilian made his court a center for scientific study in the 1500’s. He brought in scholars from across Europe and established botanical and zoological gardens. Artists were hired to render plants, fish, birds and mammals with utmost realism so that each species could be classified and clearly distinguished from others. These paintings of the Seasons and Elements appear to be an encyclopedia of the plants and animals the Maximilian acquired for his botanical garden and menagerie, all of which were studied by court scientists.

Other paintings in the exhibit include portraits of a librarian, made up of books, and another of a lawyer in which cooked chicken forms and fish make up his face (kind of sleazy looking, but appropriate.) There were also “reversible pictures”, bowls of fruit and vegetables and one of meats when turned upside down revealed a portrait. It was very clever of Arcimboldo and fun for us the viewers. The museum kindly provided mounted mirrors to reveal the faces.

One of the best paintings (in my humble opinion) is the Four Seasons in One Head, c.1590. This is one of Arcimboldo’s last works. I find it exquisitely beautiful and so intriguing. The stare of the figure is hard to turn away from. I was delighted when I read it was purchased by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

The museum also provided free of charge, a beautifully produced program of this exhibit featuring all 16 paintings by Archimboldo, and the paintings, sketches, sculpture and ceramics that show the context of the time period Archimboldo worked in, with a nicely written history of Arcimboldo and his works. Something special to keep to reflect back upon.

If you are ever in Washington DC, make time to visit the National Gallery of Art. It is a fantastic place to visit and has many amenities. There are two buildings, the West Gallery and the East Gallery with a really cool tunnel connecting the two. In the tunnel are a bookstore and a large eating plaza with a beautiful wall of water and where you can choose from a myriad of eateries including gelato (one of my favorites.) In the West building is the most amazing gift shop I have ever seen, a definite destination next Christmas season. I have to say this gallery is a very, very special place and I look forward to returning here many times.