"Sleep of Sorrow and Dream of Joy" by Raphael Monti is an outstanding example of 19th-century sculpture, symbolizing the transitional moments of Italian history and culture. The Italian sculptor, known for his talent and emotional depth in depicting the human condition, created this work in London, where it gained fame.
The sculpture depicts two figures united in a single compositional solution. The figure of "Sorrow" is depicted sleeping, wrapped in a veil, while the figure of "Joy" seems to hover above her, symbolizing hope and the future.
The work not only demonstrated Monti's high sculptural skill, but was also considered a relevant commentary on an important historical moment in Italy - the Risorgimento, which ended with the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.
The sculptor took his first steps in art under the guidance of his father, the famous sculptor Gaetano Matteo Monti, who worked on the Milan Cathedral and on monuments begun under Napoleon. Later he studied at the Imperial Academy of Milan, making his debut in 1838: he won a gold medal for a sculptural group called "Alexander Taming Bucephalus".
At the 1862 World Exhibition in London, the sculpture "Sleep of Sorrow and Dream of Joy" aroused great admiration and was one of the most striking exhibits.
After the exhibition, the sculpture was acquired by the head of the London Stereoscopic Company. Later, it passed into the collection of the Croft family from Fanhams Hall. It was sold from that collection in 1950. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired A Dream of Sorrow and a Dream of Joy in 1964.
vam.ac.uk
Source: collections.vam.ac.uk
artuk.org
