Skip to main content

Primary sourcePainting1503-1504

The Dream of a Knight

Raphael · 1503-1504

A small early allegorical painting by Raphael, likely showing a sleeping knight choosing between virtue and pleasure.

An early allegorical panel painted by Raphael, showing his engagement with classical literature at the start of his career.

Ask Raphael about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Painting of a sleeping armored knight lying on the ground beneath a small tree, with a woman in blue holding a book and a sword on the left, and a woman in blue and pink holding a flower on the right. A castle and hills appear in the background.
Raphael, The Dream of a Knight (The Vision of a Knight), 1503-1504. National Gallery, London.

About this source

What it is

This small painting by Raphael, made around 1503-1504 in egg tempera on wood, shows a sleeping armored knight with two women beside him. It is now in the National Gallery in London and may have originally been paired with another small panel now in France.

Why it matters

Art historians debate the exact meaning of the scene, but most agree it is an allegory about choice: the two women may represent different paths in life, such as virtue versus pleasure, or combined ideals like scholar, soldier and lover. The painting shows Raphael working out complex classical and literary ideas early in his career, likely drawing on ancient Roman texts.

Look closer

  • What might the objects the two women hold (a book, a sword, a flower) symbolize?
  • Why do you think the artist chose to show the knight asleep rather than awake and choosing?
  • What clues suggest this was made for a small, private audience rather than public display?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Raphael on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Raphael sources

Meet the AI Raphael →
Raphael's fresco The School of Athens: a large Renaissance hall with arched ceiling and statues, filled with robed philosophers and scholars gathered on steps and a tiled floor. Two central figures in red and blue robes walk toward the viewer.Painting

Secondary source

The School of Athens

Raphael · 1509-1511

Black and white engraved print on cream paper: an oval-framed profile portrait of a man with long wavy hair and a cloak collar, facing right, with a Latin inscription below reading RAPHAEL SANCTIVS URBINAS, ORTUS ANNO MCCCCLXXXIII, OBIT ROMAE ANNO MDXX.Painting

Secondary source

Portrait of Raphael Sanctive

Antonio Suntach

Interior of a palace room with a richly patterned marble mosaic floor. The walls and vaulted ceiling are covered in painted frescoes, including a large scene of figures in a classical hall on the right and a landscape scene on the left.Painting

Secondary source

Raphael Rooms: Sala di Costantino

Raphael · 1508-1524

Photograph of a lantern glass slide showing a vertical strip of Renaissance wall decoration with grotesque ornament: framed figure panels, medallions, and painted candelabra-like motifs. Labels read Raphael et atelier, Grotteschi (1515-9), Rome, Vatican, Loggie, and Université de Louvain.Photograph

Secondary source

Glass Slide of Raphael's Grotesques in the Vatican

Raphael · 1518-1519 (fresco); slide made 1839-1939

Painting of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child on clouds between green curtains, flanked by Saint Sixtus in gold robes on the left and Saint Barbara on the right, with two cherubs at the bottom.Painting

Primary source

Sistine Madonna

Raphael · c. 1513-1514

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Raphael now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions