VERTUMNUS
by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1591
Vertumnus is an oil painting by the Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo that consists of multiple fruits, vegetables and flowers that come together to create a portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Arcimboldo was employed in Rudolf II's court and Vertumnus has become one of his most popular paintings.
In Roman mythology, Vertumnus is the god of seasons, change and plant growth, as well as gardens and fruit trees. He could change his form at will. Vertumnus' cult arrived in Rome around 300 BC, and a temple to him was constructed on the Aventine Hill by 264 BC.
This portrait of the emperor is created out of edible plants from all seasons: gourds, pears, apples, cherries, grapes, wheat, artichokes, beans, peas, corns, onions, cabbage foils, chestnuts, figs, mulberries, plums, pomegranates, various pumpkins and olives. These are far from arbitrary. For example, the use of corn as Emperor Rudolf II's ear (a crop originating from the New World) can be seen as a pointedly political decision. By putting in particular foreign crops, Rudolf II is revealing that he has access to these items showcasing his power and wealth.
