Sleeping Cupid
1608 Palazzo Pitti, Florence
About this artwork
This painting depicts Cupid, the Roman god of love, as a sleeping or possibly deceased nude child, dramatically illuminated against a dark background. Scattered around him are his attributes: a quiver, arrows, and a broken bow, emphasizing the temporary cessation of his powers.
Did you know?
Caravaggio painted "Sleeping Cupid" during his exile in Malta, a period marked by both immense creativity and personal turmoil. This unusual portrayal of Cupid, typically depicted as lively and mischievous, as still and vulnerable, invites various interpretations, from the temporary absence of love to a meditation on mortality. The painting's powerful chiaroscuro heightens its emotional intensity and underscores the figure's poignant stillness.
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Sleeping Cupid
Michelangelo da Caravaggio, 1608
