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The Sleeping Youth was inspired by the Hellenistic Dying Gaul (Musei Capitolini, Rome), yet it was also studied from life and shows a specific state of mind. The boy, recumbent and asleep, may represent both innocence and relaxation. His smooth face, firm chest and bony limbs are the attributes of his tender years, while his closed eyes, the head leaning on the right arm, the dreamy face, and the drooping hands invoke an atmosphere of withdrawal and tranquillity. It is not clear whether the figure was destined to form part of a sculptural group, and it has been suggested that it was prepared as a model for the young soldier in the Resurrection (Bargello, Florence), a polychrome terracotta relief associated either with Verrocchio or his workshop.
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