The register of deaths at the Magistro della Sanita of Milan
records that the painter Guiseppe Arcimboldo died on this day in
1593, at about 66 year of age, from kidney stones. Arcimboldo is
best known for his much-imitated ‘portraits’ made from carefully
assemble fruits, flowers, vegetables, and other foods. It is
possible that his idea of creating pictures in this way was
inspired by dishes at actual banquets held by various artists of
his time, who made compositions out of real food. The paintings
are surreal, before there was an official Surrealist movement,
and are full of allegory and symbolism which is lost to many of
us today (I include myself here), but which would have been
clear to his patrons and contemporaries. They are also clever
and fun, and we can all appreciate that. My favourite is “The
Vegetable Gardener”. Or should it be “The Vegetable Bowl”?
Paintings sometimes give us good information about food and
dining in previous times. It is easy to identify the carrots and
onions in this picture,