Giuseppe Arcimboldo was an Italian painter in the 16th century. He is known for creating unusual portrait paintings composed of objects that form the shape of a human face. Some of his portraits used fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other objects to symbolically represent a person. Arcimboldo became a court painter for the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague and created many symbolic self-portrait paintings in this style. The document provides instructions for students to create their own symbolic self-portrait using images and drawings that represent different aspects of their personality, experiences, interests, and identity.

1. Guiseppe Arcimboldo

2. WHAT IS A PORTRAIT?

3. Giuseppe Arcimboldo- Italian painter. In the middle of the sixteenth century Arcimboldo made a normal debut with youthful works including designs for windows and tapestries respectively in Milan and Monza cathedrals and frescos for the cathedral of Como. None of these gave any inkling of the bizarre originality he would soon develop. In 1562 he was summoned to the Imperial court in Prague and almost immediately his original and grotesque fantasy was unleashed. He invented a portrait type consisting of painted animals, flowers, fruit, and objects composed to form a human likeness. Some are satiric portraits of court personages, and others are allegorical personifications.

17. Symbolic Self Portrait You will be creating a symbolic self portrait using drawings and images of aspects of your personality, likes, dislikes and life events. You will tell the story of YOU with images filling your silhouette. . 1) Ideas to get you started: Brainstorm and make a list…. Think of the things that make you what you are: * the clothes you wear and the way you look * the music you listen to and the music you make * the words you write and the images you create * what you've been through and how you feel now * where you live and where you belong * the things you love and the things you hate * your passions, politics and beliefs * your family and friends * the things that make you laugh and the things that make you cry * the places you like and the places you fear * the people you admire and the people you trust * the messages you write and the messages you receive For this project- SCHOOL APPROPRIATE imagery. (Would you show it to the principal? Be creative…

18. You might think that your bedroom, your clothes, your diary or even some of your favorite objects, photographs or documents say more about you than any mirror image could describe. Gather any resource images you may need (or you can work from your head and imagination.) 2) Have a classmate (or me) trace your silhouette onto the paper with pencil. Leave space outside the silhouette (negative space.) 3) Now begin to fill your silhouette with representations of different parts/ aspects of you. Try to make your features (such as nose, eyes, ears, etc.) out of strategically placed drawings… so plan where your images will go by sketching them with pencil first. 4) Add symbols or images to the negative space outside your Silhouette to add to your “story”. 5) When your drawings are finished add color, first using colored pencil, then watercolor or chalk pastel if you like. 6) You will present your finished portrait to the class…(more later on this!)