Arcimboldo, Giuseppe (1526-1593)
Il Fuoco (Fire)
1566
Oil on limewood panel, 66.5 x 51 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Inscribed at lower right: Joesphus Arcimboldus Mlnensis. F.
On the back side: IGNIS 1566
Two paintings from the “Four Elements” series can be found in the KHM. They can be interpreted in the context of Arcimboldo’s cycle of the seasons, created previously: “Summer” (Inv.No. 1589) corresponds to “Fire”, “Winter” (Inv.No. 1590) to “Water” (Inv.No. 1586), “Spring” to “Air” and “Autumn” to “Earth”. In comparison, “Fire” with its chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece and medallion of the Two-Headed Eagle hints most clearly at Emperor Maximilian II. (KHM)