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Endymion Sleeping

Endymion Sleeping is a sculpture by Antonio Canova made between 1819 and 1822 and preserved in the Devonshire collection at Chatsworth House. The plaster model is kept in the Gipsoteca canoviana in Possagno. Commissioned in May 1819 by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, without a specified subject, it was one of Canova’s last works. The marble was finished in September 1822 and reached London the following summer, shortly after news of the artist’s death. The figure shows the sleeping shepherd naked on a clamide, one arm raised above his head, holding two darts while a dog rests at his feet.

Endymion Sleeping, a sculpture of the sleeping Endymion with a dog beside his feet.
Endymion Sleeping, Antonio Canova’s sculpture of the reclining figure with a dog at his feet.
© Rijksmuseum · CC0
Endymion Sleeping, a reclining sculpture by Antonio Canova.
Endymion Sleeping by Antonio Canova.
© Rijksmuseum · CC0
Endymion Sleeping by Antonio Canova.
The sculpture Endymion Sleeping by Antonio Canova on display at Chatsworth House.
June 2016 © · Public domain
Detail of Antonio Canova\'s Endymion Sleeping marble sculpture.
Detail of Antonio Canova’s Endymion Sleeping marble sculpture.
July 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close-up of Antonio Canova\'s Endymion Sleeping marble sculpture.
Detail of Antonio Canova\'s Endymion Sleeping marble sculpture.
July 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleEndimión durmiente
TypeSculpture

Historical context

Date made1819–1822

Creator

ArtistAntonio Canova

Discovery and provenance

Commissioned byWilliam Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire
Date commissionedMay 1819
Commission detailsCommissioned without specifying the subject
Completion dateSeptember 1822
Arrival in LondonSummer 1823, preceded by news of the artist's death
Relation to artist's careerOne of the artist's last works
Current locationDevonshire Collection, Chatsworth House
Plaster model locationGipsoteca Canoviana, Possagno
Material versionsMarble sculpture; plaster model (gesso) also exists

Physical characteristics

AttributesDelicately holds two darts and is accompanied by a small dog lying at his feet
Depicted stateSleeping
PoseNude, reclining in sleep with the right arm raised above the head, lying on a chlamys and a gray rock
SubjectEndymion, the shepherd

Materials

MaterialMarble
Model materialPlaster (gesso)

Appearance

Surface treatmentPolished body surface
Color contrastWhite body contrasted with gray rock

Iconography and meaning

Iconographic suggestionThe two darts suggest hunting
Classical source comparisonQuatremère de Quincy noted similarities in pose to the river Ilissus on the west pediment of the Parthenon
Classical source studyCanova had seen the Parthenon sculpture in London in 1815 and had a plaster cast brought to Rome
Related worksSleeping Nymph sketches; Reclining Magdalene; geniuses of the tombs of Clement XIII and Maria Cristina of Austria
Patron's tasteThe subject was likely chosen with the duke's tastes in mind; he had shown great admiration for the geniuses of the tombs of Clement XIII and Maria Cristina of Austria

Significance

ReceptionThe sculpture enjoyed notable success
Reason for successThe polished white body contrasts with the rough gray rock