MS Arcimboldo FRE A-OK(A

Arcimboldo
Page 4 :
Self-portrait on Paper (Man of Letters), 1587.
Pen and ink on paper, 44.2 x 31.8 cm.
Palazzo Rosso, Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe, Genoa.
Author :
Liana De Girolami Cheney
Layout :
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ISBN: 978-1-78310-002-6
2
Beyond perception and signification (lexical or cultural) there
develops a whole world of value: before one of ArcimboldoÊs
Composed Heads, I am led to not only say of it: I read, guess,
discover, and understand, but also: I like, I donÊt like. Uneasiness,
fear, laughter, desire all enter the game.
· Roland Barthes
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Biography
1527
Giuseppe Arcimboldo was born to a noble family in Milan. His father, the
painter Biagio Arcimboldo, was friends with Bernardino Luini, a student of
Leonardo da Vinci.
1549
The artistÊs name appeared in the annals of the works of the Cathedral of Milan
for the first time, where, with his father, he created drawings for the CathedralÊs
stained glass windows.
1551
Arcimboldo painted five insignias for the King of Bohemia, and future
Emperor, Ferdinand I.
1555
The documents of the annals of the works of the Cathedral of Milan made mention
of ArcimboldoÊs great talent in the execution of the organ doors for the Cathedral.
1558
He sketched Old and New Testament scenes for the tapestries of Death of the
Virgin, now found in the Como Cathedral.
1562
Ferdinand I, King of Bohemia, requested ArcimboldoÊs artistic talent at the
Habsburg Imperial Court.
1563-1566
He painted the first series of the Four Seasons for Ferdinand I.
1565
ArcimboldoÊs name appeared in the archives of the Habsburg court, cited as
court painter.
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1566
Arcimboldo painted The Jurist and began the Four Elements series.
1568
He began to collaborate with Giovanni Battista Fonteo, humanist and poet, on
thematic and emblematic commissions.
1570
In Prague, Arcimboldo prepared the staging and decorations for a tournament
celebrating the wedding of Elisabeth, daughter of Maximilian II, and Charles IX,
King of France.
1571
In Vienna, with the help of the poet scholar Fonteo and the artist-philosopher
Jacopo Strada, Arcimboldo decorated the apartments for the wedding
celebrations of Archduke Charles of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria.
1577
He painted another cycle of the Four Seasons and the Four Elements.
1585
Arcimboldo gifted Rudolf II with a portfolio containing a series of 150 drawings.
1586
He designed the decor for the new residence of Baron Grünbuchel, Rudolf IIÊs
Minister of Cabinet.
1591
Arcimboldo sent Rudolf II a portrait of the Emperor under the guise of Vertumnus.
1593
11 July, Giuseppe Arcimboldo died in Milan. He is buried in the Church of San
Pietro della Vigna.
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S
on of the artist Biagio Arcimboldo and Chiara Parisi,
Giuseppe Arcimboldo was born in Milan in 1527.
Of noble descent, ArcimboldoÊs family originated from
the south of Germany, with some family members
relocating to Lombardy during the Middle Ages.
Numerous variations of the spelling of the family name
can be found: Acimboldi, Arisnbodle, Arcsimbaldo,
Arzimbaldo, or Arczimboldo; the ÂboldoÊ or ÂbaldoÊ
suffix is a mediaeval Germanic derivative. Likewise,
Arcimboldo signed his first name in several different
ways: Giuseppe, Josephus, Joseph, or Josepho are some
of the examples that can be found.
Red-flanked Duiker and Mountain Coati
Biblioteca Universitaria, Bologna
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In his work La noblità di Milano (1619), Paulo Morigi
charted the history of ArcimboldoÊs family and confirmed
his nobility, despite very uncertain sources, by tracing
his roots back to the time of Charlemagne, when a
nobleman named Sigfrid Arcimboldo served in the
court of the Emperor. Out of sixteen Arcimboldo children,
three were knighted and one amongst them settled in
Lombardy. This is how the Italian branch of the family
came to be founded. To support his claims, Morigi
declared that his narrative came „directly from
Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a trustworthy gentleman with a
respectable lifestyle‰.
Red Deer
Watercolour
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
10
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Also in La noblità di Milano, Morigi continued to
develop the history of the Arcimboldo family, although
limiting this to the Italian branch residing in Milan. He
stated that the widower Guido Antonio Arcimboldo,
GiuseppeÊs great-great-grandfather, was elected
Archbishop of Milan in 1489, succeeding his deceased
brother, Giovanni Arcimboldo. Between 1550 and
1555, Giovanni Angelo Arcimboldo, illegitimate son
of Guido Antonio, reigned as Archbishop of Milan.
He advised Giuseppe and steered him through the
politics of the artists, humanists, and writers of the
Milanese Court.
Chamois and Ibex
Watercolour
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
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In Milan, Arcimboldo received training from his
father in the arts, and also from artists of the Lombard
School, such as Giuseppe Meda (active in Milan from
1551 to 1559) and Bernardino Campi (1522-1591), a
distinguished painter from Cremona.
A certain artistic and scientific fascination for
Leonardo da Vinci has been perceived in ArcimboldoÊs
art. In fact, GiuseppeÊs father, Biagio, had the good
fortune to be friends with Bernardino Luini, a student
of Leonardo da VinciÊs, who, after da VinciÊs death,
Composition with Animals
Watercolour and gouache
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
14
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inherited several of his masterÊs workbooks and
sketches. Biagio Arcimboldo certainly studied these
and, years later, taught da VinciÊs artistic and scientific
style to his son Giuseppe.
The Italian artists Biagio, Meda, and Campi were in
contact with German artists, either working on
commissions for the Milan Cathedral or creating
tapestries for the Medici family. According to the Milan
Cathedral archives, Arcimboldo was established as a
Composition with Animals (detail)
Watercolour and gouache
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
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master in 1549, working with his father in the painting
and creation of sketches for the stained glass windows,
organ doors, and canopy of the CathedralÊs altar. The
most important stained glass windows, located within
the apse, depict the Tales of the Life of Saint Catherine
of Alexandria. The Christian legend deals with the
martyrdom of Catherine, who refused to renounce her
Christian faith for pagan gods. The decoration of these
scenes was relatively elaborate, based on a combination
Nature Study
Watercolour
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
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of classic themes (amphorae, garlands, and cherubs)
and Christian symbols (thrones, scallop shells, and
ceremonial ornaments).
The architectural and ornamental concepts reflected
the illusion of art and a mannerist taste. These forms
also demonstrated Leonardo da VinciÊs influence on
Arcimboldo, gained through the art of Milanese artist
Gaudenzio Ferrari (1471-1546), who also worked on
the CathedralÊs stained glass windows. A document
Nature Study
Watercolour
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
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