The Gardener (Arcimboldo)
The Gardener (L'ortolano) is an oil-on-panel painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, created around 1587–1590. It measures 36 cm by 24 cm (14 in by 9.4 in) and is housed in the Museo Civico Ala Ponzone in Cremona, Italy.
The work has two readings in one image. When viewed one way, you see a bowl of vegetables. When turned upside down, the vegetables form a human face. The face includes hints of male and female genitalia, which some interpret as Priapus, the fertility god.
Arcimboldo also painted The Fruit Basket and The Cook.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:27 (CET).