Turn This Painting Upside Down

A reversible meal leads into an imperial culture of visual invention. CHAPTERS 0:00 A Meal With Another Picture Inside 0:37 An Artist at the Imperial Court 1:19 What the Rotation Changes 2:06 Each Shape Has Two Jobs 2:49 Why the Food Still Has to Look Real 3:34 An Emperor Made From Fruit 4:38 Watching the Same Image Change SOURCES Nationalmuseum: The Cook, NM 6897 https://collection.nationalmuseum.se/en/collection/item/28335/ Nationalmuseum: guided viewing in both orientations https://www.nationalmuseum.se/konstverk-att-titta-p%C3%A5-med-barn-kocken NGA: Arcimboldo, Nature and Fantasy exhibition https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/arcimboldo-1526-1593-nature-and-fantasy Skokloster: Vertumnus, God of the Seasons https://skoklostersslott.se/en/previous-exhibitions/vertumnus-god-of-the-seasons/ IMAGE CREDITS Giuseppe Arcimboldo, The Cook, 16th century. Nationalmuseum, NM 6897. Digital image: Nationalmuseum. Photographer not supplied alongside this derivative; do not infer a name. Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Vertumnus, c.1590. Skokloster Castle, SKO 11615. Photograph: Erik Lernestål/Skokloster. PDM1.0; separate supporting work. Original script and explanatory guides by The Art Detail. Authentic registered reproductions; guides are labelled. Licensed synthetic narration: Andrew Dragon HD Latest. The Art Detail · Small details. Remarkable stories.