Sleeping Child, Patinated Terracotta Sculpture, 19th Century.

A beautiful and touching patinated terracotta sculpture depicting a sleeping nude child, lying on a finely modeled cushion and drapery. The figure, sculpted in the round, rests in a natural and peaceful pose: head inclined, eyes closed, one hand folded beneath the cheek, the body surrendered to a deep sleep. The supple and sensual modeling, the slightly rounded belly, the chubby limbs, and the gentle expression directly link this work to the tradition of antique putti and children, widely rediscovered and interpreted from the 17th century onward. Artistic and iconographic context: This sculpture belongs to the lineage of models inspired by antiquity, and more specifically to the famous theme of Eros, or the sleeping putto, whose ancient prototypes were extensively copied and adapted in the modern era. It bears a particularly strong resemblance to the works of François Duquesnoy (1597–1643), a Flemish sculptor active in Rome, renowned for his idealized naturalistic figures of children, both full of life and possessing a great formal delicacy. From the 17th century onward, these models became widely disseminated in Italy, particularly in Florence, where they were interpreted in bronze, marble, or terracotta by Baroque workshops, before being adopted and adapted by academic sculpture in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 19th century, profoundly influenced by Neoclassicism, perpetuated this formal vocabulary through sophisticated decorative works intended for bourgeois interiors and discerning collectors. Description and technique: The terracotta displays a beautiful, warm, homogeneous antique brown patina, highlighting the volumes and subtle transitions of the modeling. The delicately sculpted drapery contrasts with the roundness of the child's body and reinforces the feeling of rest and serenity. The molded rectangular base, integral to the composition, ensures a balanced horizontal reading of the whole. The reverse is hollowed out, according to traditional practice. Dimensions: Width: 51 cm, Depth: 18 cm, Height: 16 cm. Condition: Very good overall condition. Wear and slight signs of age consistent with the age and material; a very small, discreet chip at the rear right corner of the base.