Sleeping Cupid (Il Cupidino Dormiente)
Painting on canvas, presented in an oval format within a rectangular frame • Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (or a high-quality contemporary circle/follower copy)
Style & Movement
Baroque (Italian Baroque)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing chiaroscuro and sfumato techniques to create soft transitions between light and shadow
Creation Period
Early 17th Century (circa 1608-1610)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 71 x 105 cm (original dimensions); presented as a horizontal oval within an ornate gilt frame
Subject Description
The painting depicts a sleeping Cupid, wings visible and arms resting upon a quiver, symbolizing the temporary cessation of desire or the power of sleep over love. The dramatic light source creates a profound sense of volume and presence against a dark, tenebristic background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible craquelure consistent with age, some evidence of surface cleaning and possible minor retouching in the dark passages
Estimated Market Value
$500,000 - $2,000,000 (depending on attribution status and authenticity research)
Auction Estimate
$400,000 - $800,000 (as a period follower/circle work); significantly higher if fully re-attributed
Provenance History
The original was commissioned by Fra Francesco dell'Antella in Florence; this version appears to be part of a private collection or gallery inventory, indicated by the professional easel and presentation
Art Historical Significance
A significant example of Caravaggesque naturalism. It departs from the idealized Renaissance Cupid to show a more vulnerable, humanized infant, reflecting the Baroque interest in psychological realism and the fleeting nature of human emotions.
Notable Features
Housed in a highly ornate 19th-century Neo-Baroque gilt frame with rocaille and shell motifs, which contrasts with the somber, dramatic tone of the painting itself.
Condition Issues
Visible fine-pattern craquelure across the flesh tones; minor flattening of the impasto likely due to a historical relining; slight yellowing of the varnish layer.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled environment with 50% relative humidity. Use UV-filtered lighting. Surface cleaning by a specialist to remove aged varnish could improve clarity.