Raphael is one of the three masters of the High Renaissance, along with Leonardo and Michelangelo. The famous Italian artist was born in 1483. After living 37 years, he left behind at least 200 paintings.
Raphael's life has been difficult since childhood: he lost his parents at age 11. However, even in such a short time, his father gave him the first drawing lessons, thereby determining his future life path. By coincidence, Rafael died on his birthday, the cause of death remains a mystery. He received the greatest popularity for a number of Madonnas written by him. Rafael for the first time endowed the Madonna not with estrangement, but rather with a gentle, soulful expression.
The magic of his work is expressed in a difficult geometric drawing of space, focusing attention and generating a situation. He has the ability to arouse interest and immerse himself in the contemplation of the plot of the picture, which amazes with its sophistication, grace and enchanting power.
Characteristics of the picture
Raphael's painting "The Knight's Dream", written in 1504-1505, is a prime example of the High Renaissance. It belongs to the miniature, as it has small dimensions: its height is 17 cm. The painting is also called "The Sleep of Spition", or "Allegory". The work is one of the parts of the diptych and is paired with the painting "Three Graces", its height is also 17 cm, it is in the museum of the Chateau de Chantilly. The Raptiel Diptych is presented to Scipio di Tommaso Borghese. This canvas takes its place of honor in the London Gallery.
There are a number of theories regarding what a panel should represent. Some art historians believe that the sleeping knight represents the Roman general Scipio Africanus (236-184 BC).
Web interpretation
The picture of Rafael Santi "The Knight's Dream" shows the viewer a young man in armor, who dozed off near a laurel tree next to two beautiful ladies. The first holds a book and a sword in its hands, and the second holds a flower. This miniature refers to allegorical painting, when the artist illustrates an abstract idea with the help of images.
The source of the story’s canvas, as many art historians claim, is an allegory of choice, taken from an excerpt from the poem “Punic”, which tells of the Second Punic War and was written by the Latin poet Celius Italik. They offer the following description of Rafael Santi's “Knight's Dream”: the young knight of Scipio, resting in the shade of the bay, had a dream about two women, Venus and Minerva, between whom he had to choose.
Problem of choice
In the picture of Rafael Santi's “Knight's Dream”, the appearance and style of women's clothing helps to most clearly reveal the ideals that they represent.
Minerva, to her left, was the Roman goddess of wisdom and the patroness of arts, commerce, and defense. Her hair is covered, and the dress is very modest. She is the embodiment of nobility and greatness. Behind her there is a clear path. This is a steep and rocky path leading to the castle, which symbolizes humble work, and every knight needs to go through it.
Venus, standing on the right in looser clothes, with lush curly curls, is the Roman goddess of love. Behind it is a milder path leading to distant lands or to the sea, where Venus herself was born.
Items belonging to girls represent their ideals. The book and the sword are symbols of the perfection of erudition, law and protection. A flower is a symbol of love, love joy, pleasure. Thus, the young man must choose between Virtue (the path of judgment and battle) and Pleasure (the path of enjoyment, peace, love). However, Rafael Santi in the film "The Knight’s Dream" goes beyond the plot of the poem and does not make two girls rivals. A young man can choose a third path that combines two poles of fate.
Bay tree
Rafael Santi’s canvas “The Knight’s Dream” divides the elegant evergreen laurel tree into two equal parts. It was used to make a laurel wreath in ancient Greece, a symbol of higher status. Moreover, it personifies infinity and imperishability. As a prize at the Pythian Games, they are awarded a laurel wreath, because these games were held in honor of Apollo, and the laurel was one of its symbols. A crown of its leaves and a helmet decorated with a laurel were a symbol of triumph and victory.
In The Knight’s Dream, Raphael used an extensive palette of colors to portray this colorful scene. Experts have identified various pigments such as yellow lead, ultramarine and ocher.