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 is an egg tempera painting on poplar by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael, finished in 1504. It is housed at the National Gallery in London.
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.
