Giuseppe Arcimboldo was appointed a portrait painter and transcriber at the imperial Court of Vienna in 1562. When Maximilian II was anointed emperor of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire in 1564, Arcimboldo was the court artist. In his near circle, he was considered to be erudite man with the exceptionally developed creative genius. His enormous talent and inventive spirit in art, in requisites of processions, games, coronations and weddings generated admiration by his contemporaries in general and the great people of his time.
He became what would be called today an artistic director of the Emperor Maximilian II. He fulfilled many tasks at the Imperial Court in the fields of architecture and theatrical design. He functioned as engineer, inventor of water games, artistic adviser and took part in the development of a museum.
Arcimoldo organised grand tournaments and sumptuous celebrations attended by the artistocracy and high dignitaries, scientists and artists. The Habsbourgs ruled over a mosaic of different nations and the festivites served to reinforce the establishment of their political power by representing the sovereign as the victorious hero and to dazzle people in order to divert their attention from their poverty.

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