RENI, Guido
(b. 1575, Calvenzano, d. 1642, Bologna)

Sleeping Putto

1627
Fresco, 57 x 56 cm
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome

The tale behind this little masterpiece comes down to us from the account of Chantelou (1665), who repeats it as a story told to him by Bernini. Apparently, Guido Reni was called to Rome to carry out a fresco either in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano or that of Santa Maria Maggiore, but found himself out of practice in the fresco medium. To practice his technique, he had a little base of mortar prepared for him, and in the presence of Cardinal Francesco Barberini painted the sleeping putto - a work that shows incredible freshness - before the base even had the time to dry. The little fresco passed into the collection of Francesco Barberini in January of 1629.

Formerly it was held that the fresco project to which Bernini refers must be the decoration of the Cappella Paolina in S. Maria Maggiore (c. 1610). This early date is incongruous with the story, however, for in 1610 Francesco Barberini was only thirteen and had not yet moved to Rome. Bernini himself was evidently not certain for what fresco commission Reni prepared this practice sketch. According to him the work requested of Reni was instead the fresco of Attila in St. Peter's Basilica, for which the artist was called to Rome from Bologna in 1627. This date is confirmed by the fact that it is just a short time later, in 1629, that the "sleeping putto" was first recorded in the collection of Francesco Barberini.