Sleeping Cupid (Il Cupido dormiente)
Painting on canvas set into a rectangular frame with an oval spandrel/mount • After Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (or Orazio Gentilleschi style)
Style & Movement
Baroque Revival / Neoclassical Academicism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas. Employs chiaroscuro and tenebrism with softened sfumato on the flesh tones and delicate impasto for the wing highlights.
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (Grand Tour copy)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 50x60 cm (canvas), set in a landscape format oversized gilded frame.
Subject Description
A close-up of a winged Cupid (Eros) sleeping, leaning his head on his hand with a dark, atmospheric background. The composition is based on the famous Caravaggio original in the Palazzo Pitti, symbolizing the triumph of sleep over the senses or the vulnerability of love.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The paint surface appears stable and well-pigmented; the frame is in excellent condition though potentially a later addition.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $3,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,200 - $2,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired from an Italian or European studio specializing in Old Master copies for private collectors; no visible labels in photo.
Art Historical Significance
A high-quality study of 17th-century Italian Baroque aesthetics. While not an original, it reflects the enduring legacy of Caravaggio's mastery of light and shadow in the academic tradition.
Notable Features
Housed in an exceptionally ornate Rococo-style gold-leaf frame with elaborate acanthus leaf carvings and integral oval sight edge.
Condition Issues
Possible minor surface craquelure consistent with age; possible yellowing of the varnish layer visible in warmer tones.
Conservation Recommendations
UVR inspection to check for overpainting; professional cleaning of surface dust; maintain stable humidity (45-55%) to prevent canvas expansion/contraction.