A Nymph discovering a sleeping Cupid

Unpublished until now, the present work, which was executed before Le Barbier's acceptance into the Academy in 1780, is typical of the artist's oeuvre in both its choice and treatment of subject matter. His interest in the theme of young nymphs or Venus accompanied by Cupid, is shown by a number of works in the 1770s, including two watercolours, dated 1772 and 1773, formerly with Galerie Cailleux, and a large canvas painted in 1775, formerly with Fredrich Thom Galleries, Toronto. He was not, however, the only artist representing this theme at the time - Louis Lagrene also painted A Nymph encountering a sleeping Cupid as a pendant to A woman feeding her child (Louis Lagrene, tat des tableaux faits par M. Lagrene, nos. 310 and 311).