Raphael: Vision of a Knight

The focus of this painting is the knight who is stretched asleep upon the ground with a laurel tree behind him dividing two allegorical maidens. The maiden on the left is Virtue, who holds out the sword and book to him as representations of intellectual and courageous attributes. The maiden on the right is Pleasure, holding out a flower which represents sensual pleasures. Must the knight choose between the two maidens, Virtue or Pleasure? It does not seem he must choose for the knight is equally balanced between the two, meaning he can live a life of both intellectual and bodily goods, as he is a creature composed of both body and soul, as paths used to attain a higher good. St. Augustine teaches us that man should use all things as a means to attain that final end, God. Thus it seems the knight is using both ways of life here to be a knight of Christ. His feet, however, are on the side of Pleasure, which indicates that bodily goods are a lesser means to his end. In contrast, his head is on Virtue’s side, indicating virtue is a better means to his end. Thus the knight will make use of both intellectual and bodily goods as a means to his end, which is God, and receive his laurels from God as a triumphant Knight of Christ.