Follower of Giuseppe Arcimboldo - Rotating Portrait of Two Men

Follower of Giuseppe Arcimboldo (Milan 1527 - Milan 1593)

Rotating Portrait of Two Men

c. 1700-1800
watercolor 
framed 25 x 25 cm
visible image 12 x 12 cm

Essay:
We are pleased to offer a unique watercolor painting by an unknown artist, following the imaginative and distinctive style of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. This intriguing piece features a dual portrait that reveals two different faces when rotated. The versatility of the painting adds a playful and curious element, allowing the viewer to decide which face to display.

The artwork comes with a custom frame made by Christer Björkman, designed to facilitate easy rotation of the painting while mounted on the wall. This innovative frame enhances the interactive experience, making it simple to switch between the two portraits. 

Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527–1593) was an Italian Renaissance painter renowned for his imaginative portrait heads, composed entirely of objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books. These whimsical and symbolic compositions were created to amuse the court while engaging with the intellectual currents of the Renaissance period. Arcimboldo's work was celebrated for its creativity, and his portraits remain a source of fascination, blending elements of nature and human form in a unique manner.

This watercolor painting captures the essence of Arcimboldo's style, with its grotesque and symbolic elements arranged into a compelling human form. It offers a modern tribute to the 16th-century Mannerist's work, known for showing the close relationships between humans and nature through art. framed 25 x 25 cm visible image 12 x 12 cm