Sleeping Putto (The Sleeping Cupid)
Painting on oval canvas, mounted in a rectangular frame with a spandrel insert • Circle of Guido Reni or Guercino; possibly an exceptionally high-quality period copy after a known Bolognese composition
Style & Movement
Italian Baroque, specifically the Bolognese School
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas using chiaroscuro technique with delicate glazing and sfumato in the flesh tones
Creation Period
17th Century (Baroque period), likely mid-to-late 1600s
Dimensions & Format
84 cm x 76 cm (with frame); Oval format within a landscape orientation
Subject Description
A winged putto or Cupid shown in deep slumber, leaning on a red cushion with a dark, atmospheric background. The composition emphasizes vulnerability and innocence through the use of dramatic light (tenebrism) hitting the rounded forms of the child.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The paint film appears stable with some evidence of old varnish yellowing and minor surface craquelure consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
$8,000 - $15,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$6,000 - $10,000 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; stylistic traits suggest an Italian or European Continental origin, likely passing through private collections in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Art Historical Significance
This work is a fine example of the Baroque fascination with the 'Sleeping Cupid' theme, popularized by Caravaggio and refined by the Bolognese masters. It serves as a study in anatomy, light, and the transition from the secular to the divine in 17th-century art.
Notable Features
Housed in a heavy, ornate 19th-century Gilt Rococo Revival frame which adds significant decorative value. The use of the oval format (tondo-oblong) is characteristic of decorative interior commissions of the period.
Condition Issues
Stable craquelure throughout the figure; slight darkening of the pigment in the background shadows; minor frame losses to the gilded plaster ornaments.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and a light varnish refresh are recommended. The work should be kept in a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting.
Collector Notes
Overall size with frame is 84 cm x 76 cm