Arcimboldo, Giuseppe (1526-1593)
L’Acqua (Water)
1566
Oil on alder wood, 66.5 x 50.5 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Inscription on the back side: AQUA
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: “Winter” (Inv.No. 1590) corresponds to “Water” while “Summer” (Inv.No. 1589) relates to “Fire” (Inv.No. 1585), “Spring” to “Air” and “Autumn” to “Earth”. The small crown here is probably a hidden reference to the Emperor and hence to the person who commissioned the painting. (KHM)