Sleeping Child thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Design Gallery, The Factory, Case 1

Sleeping Child

Statuette
ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Du Quesnoy, François (circle of)
Place of origin
The Netherlands (made)

Small-scale sculptures of sleeping children were popular from the 17th century onwards, and many were inspired by the work of Francois du Quesnoy (1594-1643), the Netherlandish sculptor active in Rome. They suggested the sleep of death, and were often also indirectly associated with the Christ Child.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Children & Childhood
Object type
Statuette
TitleSleeping Child (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Ivory
Brief description
Statuette, carved ivory, of a child asleep, circle of François Du Quesnoy, Netherlandish, ca. 1650
Physical description
The chubby sleeping child lies naked on a drapery, his upraised right arm flung over his head, and his ankles crossed. His mouth is open, the tongue and teeth visible.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.5cm
  • Length: 15cm
Object history
Bought for £35 in 1874 (Ex Webb Collection).
Subjects depicted
Boys
Child
Summary
Small-scale sculptures of sleeping children were popular from the 17th century onwards, and many were inspired by the work of Francois du Quesnoy (1594-1643), the Netherlandish sculptor active in Rome. They suggested the sleep of death, and were often also indirectly associated with the Christ Child.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1874, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 15
  • Boudon-Machuel, Marion. François du Quesnoy, 1597-1643. Paris: Arthena, 2005, p. 67, fig. 58, cat. ln. 76 dér. 2, p. 303. ln. 76b
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 73
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 102
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
202-1874

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Record createdOctober 29, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106902/sleeping-child-statuette-du-quesnoy-françois/
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