Sleeping Silenus is a bronze relief by Flemish sculptor François Duquesnoy.

"[4][1] Virgil's fourth eclogue goes thusly: In a cave, two boysChromis, and Mnasylos, Silenus found Lying asleep, all swollen with the wine Of yesterday, as always he is seen.

His garlands lay beyond, fall'n from his head; His heavy wine-jar from worn handle hung: They seize him (for he oft had promised fair To sing them songs) and bind, with his own wreaths Now comes the fairest of the Naiads near, Ægle, encouraging the coward boys, And, as he opes his eyes, she with the juice Of mulberries, stains his brows and temples red.

Some putti are tying him up with shoots, while a nymph, Aegle, is smearing his face with mulberries.

[4] The version housed at the Rubenshuis was cast in bronze, with an expensive background in lapis lazuli.