Cupid Asleep
manner of Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1700 - 1799
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
820 x 1110 mm
Place of origin
Rome
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851986
Caption
This painting was acquired by John, 4th Earl of Bristol, ‘The Earl Bishop’, from Jacob More (1740-93). More was a Scottish artist, living in Rome from 1771, who acted as agent in securing works by the Old Masters. Like his other contemporary agents in Rome, James Byres and Thomas Jenkins, his eye (or his integrity), was not always reliable. Whilst on the look out for the genuine Raphael his patron was keen to acquire, and warning him of the many dubious ones available, he assured Lord Bristol of the authenticity of the present painting. In fact, this painting is an amalgam of two works by Reni, a ‘Virgin and Sleeping Christ Child’ in the Doria Pamphilj collection, and a ‘Sleeping Cupid’, now in a New York Private Collection.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Cupid Asleep, in the manner of Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642), 18th century. A naked child with small wings sleeping on a black drapery and red cushions, with a bow and arrows nearby. A landscape in the background. This painting was acquired by John, 4th Earl of Bristol, 'The Earl Bishop', from Jacob More. Jacob More (1740-93), a Scottish artist, living in Rome from 1771, was patronised by the Earl Bishop and acted as agent in securing works by the Old Masters. Like his other contemporary agents in Rome, James Byres and Thomas Jenkins (1722 -1798), his eyes (or his integrity), was not always reliable, and whilst on the look out for the genuine Raphael his patron was keen to acquire, and warning him of the many dubious ones available, he assured Lord Bristol of the authenticity of the present painting. In fact this painting is an amalgam of two works by Reni, a Virgin and Sleeping Child in the Doria Pamphilj collection, and a Sleeping Cupid now in a New York Private Collection. It would appear to date from the eighteenth century.
Provenance
Acquired in Rome by John Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol from Jacob More (1740-1793) who assured him of the authenticity of the painting. (see Jacob More's Letterbook, Edinburgh University Library, Laing MSS IV 25, pp.42, 78); acquired by the National Trust from Sothebys, The East Wing, Ickworth, Suffolk, sale, 11-12 June 1996, lot no.469
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Makers and roles
manner of Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642), artist
References
Pepper 1984 D. Stephen Pepper, Guido Reni: A Complete Catalogue of his Works with an Introductory Text, Oxford 1984 Pepper 1988 Stephen Pepper, Guido Reni, L'Opera Completa, 1988, fig.96 and Plate VII).