New and Notable

New to Library shelves this week are two books about the work of 16th century Italian Painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo:

Arcimboldi, Giuseppe, and Pagden S. Ferino. Arcimboldo: 1526-1593. Milan: Skira, 2007.

Kaufmann, Thomas D. C. Arcimboldo: Visual Jokes, Natural History, and Still-Life Painting. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2009.


Best known for composing unusual portrait busts using plants, animals, and objects, Arcimboldo’s work has recently been reevaluated by scholars and noted for the scientific accuracy of his work. These two excellent catalogs explore the how and why of Arcimboldo’s unique work in context with the scientific exploration of the Renaissance and the context of visual humor. A feast for the eyes and for the curious mind, stop by the Library to take a look at both catalogs.

Interested in further the connections between science and art? On Saturday December 11, 2010 Jonathan Smith of the University of Michigan–Dearborn will explore the intersection of 19th century art, culture and science in his lecture "Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Aesthetics, and Victorian Visual Culture.” More information on the lecture is available here or by calling 757-664-6200