Arcimboldo painting undergoes CT scan to reveal technical secrets

Researchers are using advanced medical imaging technology to study ‘L'Ortolano’, a famous 16th-century painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo held at the Pinacoteca Ala Ponzone in Cremona. A team from Humanitas University is utilizing a high-resolution CT scanner—typically used for clinical research on organs and tumors—to examine the oil-on-wood work.

The scientific investigation aims to determine the technical execution of the piece and test the hypothesis that it represents Arcimboldo’s first composite head. Experts also intend to analyze the painting’s color palette, the nature of the materials used, and the current stratification of the support to understand previous conservation efforts.

Created between 1587 and 1590, the work is a reversible composition: a still life of vegetables that, when turned 180 degrees, forms a human face. This study is part of a broader diagnostic campaign conducted in collaboration with the University of Pavia.