Rudolph II as Vertumnus

Vertumnus is an allegorical portrait of Arcimboldo’s employer, the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. The portrait, named after Vertumnus, god of the seasons, is composed by fruits and vegetables. The composition as a whole symbolizes how Rudolph’s reign is in perfect harmony with nature, whereas every individual object carries its own symbolic meaning. Vertumnus is known worldwide and has been reprod…