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Vertumnus is an oil painting produced by the Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo in 1591 that consists of multiple fruits, vegetables and flowers that come together to create a portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Although Arcimboldo's colleagues commented that Vertumnus was scherzo, or humorous, there were intentional political meanings behind the piece, particularly regarding the choice of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Arcimboldo's choice to include these items was also an intentional reference to the Roman god, Vertumnus. Vertumnus was presented to Rudolf II after its completion. Its ownership shifted to the Swedish army after the Thirty Years' War. Although art historians lost track of Vertumnus after this shift, it reappeared in 1845 in Sweden in Skokloster Castle, where it is currently located.
An oil painting depicts a vibrant still life arrangement of various fruits and leaves, spilling out of an ornate, embossed golden footed bowl. The arrangement rests on a dark surface covered with a dark green draped cloth. A prominent pineapple stands upright on the right side of the bowl. Bunches of green and dark purple grapes, a head of white cauliflower, oranges, apples, and tomatoes are scattered throughout the arrangement and on the table. The background is a dark, gradient color, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.
