Sleeping Cupid (Sleeping Putto)
Painting, Oval canvas mounted in a rectangular frame • Circle of Guido Reni or follower of Caravaggio (Roman/Bolognese school)
Style & Movement
Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing chiaroscuro and sfumato techniques to achieve soft skin tones and dramatic lighting
Creation Period
Late 17th to early 18th century (c. 1680-1730)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 80 cm (oval format), presented in a landscape-oriented rectangular frame
Subject Description
A winged putto or Cupid is depicted sleeping soundly, leaning his head on his arm which rests upon a red velvet cushion. The composition utilizes a dark 'tenebrist' background to push the figure forward, symbolizing innocence, rest, or the quietude of love.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paint surface shows some stable craquelure consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000 - $25,000
Auction Estimate
$10,000 - $18,000
Provenance History
Likely from a European private collection; the frame suggests high-status 19th-century mounting for a gallery or manor house.
Art Historical Significance
A fine example of the Baroque fascination with the 'Sleeping Cupid' theme, a motif popularized by Caravaggio and refined by the Bolognese school to emphasize domestic charm and soft naturalism.
Notable Features
Housed in an exceptionally ornate Louis XV-style gilt-wood frame with elaborate rocaille corner ornaments and a deep-set golden slip.
Condition Issues
Visible surface craquelure, minor yellowing of varnish, and some slight loss of detail in the darker shadows possibly due to bitumen use or old over-cleaning.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning and reversible varnish replacement; maintain in a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting to prevent pigment fading.