Vision of a Knight (Raphael)

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Vision of a Knight
Raphael, circa 1504
Egg tempera on poplar
17.1 × 17.1 cm
National Gallery, London

The Vision of a Knight or The Dream of Scipio or Allegory is a small egg tempera painting on poplar by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael, finished in 1504. It is in the National Gallery in London. It probably formed a pair with the Three Graces panel, also 17 cm square, now in the Château de Chantilly museum.

The theme is controversial. Some authorities intend the sleeping knight to represent the Roman general Scipio Africanus (236 - 184 BC) who was dreaming to choose between Virtue (behind whom is a steep and rocky path) and Pleasure (in looser robes). However, the two feminine figures are not presented as contestants. They may represent the ideal attributes of the knight: the book, sword and flower which they hold suggest the ideals of scholar, soldier and lover which a knight should combine.

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Raphael
Early Works
The Kinnaird Resurrection • Baronci altarpiece • Holy Family with Madonna of the Veil • St. Sebastian • Oddi Altar • Solly Madonna • Mond Crucifixion • Three Graces • St. Michael • Portrait of a Man • Connestabile Madonna • Madonna and Child • The Marriage of the Virgin • Vision of a Knight • St. George • Colonna Altarpiece • Portrait of Perugino
Florentine period
Portrait of Elisabetta Gonzaga • Self-portrait • Madonna of the Grand Duke • Ansidei Madonna • Young Man with an Apple • Christ Blessing • Madonna Terranova • Madonna of the Goldfinch • Madonna of the Meadow • Esterhazy Madonna • St. George and the Dragon • La Donna Gravida • Portrait of Agnolo Doni • Portrait of Maddalena Doni • Madonna of the Pinks • Young Woman with Unicorn  • Madonna with Beardless St. Joseph • Saint Catherine of Alexandria • Canigiani Holy Family • La belle jardinière • Deposition of Christ • The Three Theological Virtues • Portrait of a Young Woman • Tempi Madonna • Madonna Colonna • Madonna de Bogota
Roman period
Portrait of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese • La disputa • The School of Athens • Madonna of Loreto • Aldobrandini Madonna • Madonna with the Blue Diadem • Alba Madonna • The Parnassus • The Cardinal Virtues • The Prophet Isaiah • The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple • Portrait of Pope Julius II • Madonna of Foligno • Triumph of Galatea • Sistine Madonna • Madonna della seggiola • Madonna dell'Impannata • Madonna della tenda • The Fire in the Borgo • The Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila • Deliverance of Saint Peter • Portrait of Bindo Altoviti • The Sibyls • The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia • Portrait of Balthasar Castiglione • La Donna Velata • Portrait of Tommaso Inghirami • Palazzo Branconio dell'Aquila in Borgo • Portrait of Andrea Navagero and Agostino Beazzano • Portrait of Cardinal Bibbiena • Double Portrait • Church of Sant'Eligio degli Orefici • Creation of the World • Transfiguration • Portrait of Pope Leo X with two Cardinals • Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary • The Holy Family of Francis I • Ezechiel's Vision • St. Michael Vanquishing Satan  • Madonna of the Rose • Self-portrait with a Friend • La fornarina • Visitation
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