Who painted Sleeping Woman with a Cupid?

Sleeping Woman with a Cupid was painted by Henry Fuseli in 1785.

Where can I see Sleeping Woman with a Cupid?

Sleeping Woman with a Cupid is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Sleeping Woman with a Cupid?

Sleeping Woman with a Cupid is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Sleeping Woman with a Cupid

Henry Fuseli , 1785

Sleeping Woman with a Cupid is a print by the Romanticist artist Henry Fuseli. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1785 by Henry Fuseli, this print titled *Sleeping Woman with a Cupid* is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a reclining female figure in a white drape, her head supported by her left arm, while a diminutive Cupid hovers above, brandishing a bow and arrow.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure appears in a state of repose, eyes closed and expression tranquil, suggesting a moment of private relaxation. The presence of Cupid, the classical symbol of love, introduces a playful, perhaps erotic undertone, hinting at the interplay between sleep, desire, and the unconscious.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, Fuseli employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated figure and Cupid against a darkened backdrop that includes vague foliage. The fluid rendering of the white robe and the delicate lines of the Cupid’s wings reflect the artist’s interest in dramatic, Romantic compositions that blend realism with mythic imagination.

History & Provenance

The work was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when Fuseli was gaining recognition for his imaginative mythological subjects. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s European prints collection.

Context

Fuseli’s oeuvre often explores supernatural and emotional extremes, aligning him with the early Romantic movement. This piece, with its blend of sensual repose and mythic iconography, exemplifies the era’s fascination with the unconscious mind and the tension between rational restraint and passionate impulse.