4 elements - Water by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

A striking symbol of the imperial collections dedicated to the mysteries of wild nature, this fascinating painting remains an essential icon of the European Mannerist movement. Imagined by the Italian artist Arcimboldo Giuseppe, this extraordinary effigy bears the title of “4 elements - Water”. The great complexity of this meticulous assemblage reflects the contemporary fascination for aquatic creatures as well as for the princely cabinets of curiosities of this century.

The left profile face stands out against an entirely dark and opaque background that accentuates the relief of the scene. An implausible profusion of marine animals composes the entirety of the human figure. Fish with silvery scales form the forehead and skull, topped with a piece of bright red coral as a royal adornment. A flat gray ray draws the cheek, while an open shark and a seal model other parts of the face. The neck is girt with a sumptuous necklace of pearly white pearls. On the shoulder rests a large crab associated with a scarlet lobster and a sea turtle with a marbled shell.

The painter excels at translating the slimy appearance of the fish and the limestone hardness of the shells of various crustaceans. His absolute mastery of oil painting allows him to obtain a striking realism and unique pearly chromatic variations. It is a remarkable and neat work of craftsmanship.