Serendipitous Art of Arcimboldo

A few weeks ago, the kids had a day off from school and while I was tempted to get them some “playdates,” Tonka and Paco insisted that we “take the Metro and do ‘something’ in Washington DC.”

Proud of them for that alone, but even more so when they suggested the National Gallery of Art (primarily because they love the moving walkways in the basement there, but hey).

Well, as luck would have it, we ran into two GREAT exhibits. One was the drawings of Edvard Munch (yes, we saw “the Scream”), but also wel earned about the insanely good work of Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

His paintings, almost all commissioned by Maximillian II, the Holy Roman Emperor were exquisite compilations.

For example, he painted a series called the “4 Seasons,” but they were paintings of people, but made up of items like marine life and fruit.

I couldn’t believe I had never heard of him, but was doubly excited to make this discovery with the kids.