Giovanni Arcimboldi (1426–1488) was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, who became Cardinal Archbishop of Milan in 1485. He was a senator of Milan, and he was Milan's ambassador to Rome. In 1468, he became Bishop of Novara. In 1473, he became a cardinal, and in 1485, he became Archbishop of Milan. On his death, his brother Guido Antonio Arcimboldi succeeded him as Archbishop of Milan (1489–1497), and his grandson Giovanni Angelo Arcimboldi also became Archbishop of Milan (1550–1550).^[1][2]

Giovanni Arcimboldi was born in Parma in 1430.^[3] He was the son of Nicolò Arcimboldo, who was the treasurer of the Duchy of Milan, and his wife Orsina Canossa (descendant of the family of Empress Matilde di Canossa).^[4]

He was educated at the University of Pavia, receiving a doctorate of both laws in 1458.^[5] He also studied letters under Italian Renaissance humanist Francesco Filelfo and later maintained a correspondence with Filelfo.^[3]

Early in his life, he married Briseide Pietrasanta, and had a daughter, Briseide Arcimboldi. He also later fathered nine illegitimate children.^[5]

In July 1458, through the influence of Francesco I Sforza, he gained admission to Milan's prestigious Collegio di Giureconsulti. He afterwards became a Senator of the Duchy of Milan.^[5]Francesco I Sforza sent Arcimboldi to Rome as his ambassador to the Holy See.^[5]

After the death of his wife, Arcimboldi entered the ecclesiastical state. He received the four minor orders in September 1461.^[5] On September 20, 1466, he was ordained as a subdeacon by the suffragan bishop of Milan.^[5] In October 1466, Pope Paul II made him a protonotary apostolic.^[5] He also became a canon of Pavia Cathedral and Piacenza Cathedral at this time.^[5]

On November 20, 1468, he was elected Bishop of Novara.^[5] He took possession of the see in May 1469, but stayed there only a few days before he was called away by Galeazzo Maria Sforza to serve as his ambassador to Pope Sixtus IV, a post he held from May 1472 until February 1473.^[5]

In the consistory of May 7, 1473, Pope Sixtus IV made Arcimboldi a cardinal priest.^[5] He received the titular church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo on May 17, 1473.^[5] He entered Rome on November 24, 1473 and received the red hat on December 10, 1473.^[5] The pope then named him Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, an office he held until his death.^[5] On May 31, 1476, he was elected temporary Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals in the absence of Cardinal Jacopo Piccolomini-Ammannati.^[5] He opted for the titular church of Santa Prassede on December 30, 1476.^[5]

On January 15, 1477, Pope Sixtus IV named him legate a latere to Perugia.^[5] On February 7, 1477, his legation was extended to include the Kingdom of Hungary, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bohemia.^[5]

During the outbreak of bubonic plague, he again served as temporary Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, from May 19 to June 5, 1482.^[5] He was then elected to a full term as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals on January 15, 1483 and held this post until January 19, 1484.^[5] On November 15, 1483, Pope Sixtus IV named him legate to Perugia for a second time.^[5]

Following the death of Sixtus IV, Cardinal Arcimboldi participated in the papal conclave of 1484 that elected Pope Innocent VIII.^[5] In the consistory of September 23, 1484, Innocent VIII confirmed Arcimboldi's appointment as legate to Perugia, and Arcimboldi left on his legation on October 11, 1484, returning to Rome on January 15, 1485.^[5]

Meanwhile, on October 25, 1484, he had been transferred to the metropolitan see of Milan.^[5] He received the pallium on November 12 and took formal possession of the archdiocese via a procurator, Antonio Griffi, on January 1, 1485.^[5]

He died in Rome on October 2, 1488. He was buried in the Basilica di Sant'Agostino.^[3]