Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 2: Vision of a Knight

by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Raphael)

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

In 'Vision of a Knight,' Raphael paints a knight sleeping on the ground between two women. Both women gaze down upon the knight. The woman on the left holds out a sword and a book. The woman on the right extends a flower. The items held by the women represent the ideal attributes of a knight as a scholar (book), a soldier (sword), and a lover (flower). The painting also includes a mountain range, a city, a bridge over a river, a road with men on horseback, and a great castle in the background.

Vocabulary

Vision: Seeing someone or something in a dream.
Knight: A man who serves his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor.
Scholar: A person who is highly educated.
Soldier: A person who serves in an army.

Concepts

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, commonly known as Raphael, painted 'Vision of a Knight.'

1. Raphael was born in 1483 in Urbino, Marche, Italy. See his picture below.

2. Find Raphael's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Raphael did not have an easy life. By the time he was eleven, both of his parents had died.
4. Raphael demonstrated a talent for art from an early age. He became a famous painter and eventually worked for two Popes. Some of his paintings can be found in the Vatican Palace today. The Vatican Palace is where the Pope, leader of the Catholic Church, lives.
5. Raphael is considered one of the great master artists during the High Renaissance (1490s - 1527), along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
6. Raphael died in 1520 in Rome, Italy, at the age of 37.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Knight
• Book
• Flower
• Sword
• River
• Castle
• Bridge
• Horses
• Helmet
• Armor

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Act Out the Painting

• One day this week, act out the scene.
• If you don't have suitable objects, color and cut out your own sword and flower.
• One person can pretend to sleep.
• Have two others pretend to be the women, one holding a sword and a book, and the other a flower.

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 6 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the human characters in the painting?

1 / 7

Answer 1

The knight, two women, and people riding horses on a distant road.

1 / 7

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 7

Answer 2

A hill just outside small city with a castle.

2 / 7

Question 3

Which buildings and structures are in the background of the painting?

3 / 7

Answer 3

A castle, some houses, a road, and a bridge

3 / 7

Question 4

What is the woman on the left side of the painting holding?

4 / 7

Answer 4

A sword and a book.

4 / 7

Question 5

What is the woman on the right side of the painting holding?

5 / 7

Answer 5

A flower.

5 / 7

Question 6

How do you know the man in the painting is a knight?

6 / 7

Answer 6

From the title of the painting.

6 / 7

Question 7

What is the knight doing in the painting?

7 / 7

Answer 7

He is sleeping and dreaming of the women.

7 / 7

❮ ❯

1. Who are the human characters in the painting? The knight, two women, and people riding horses on a distant road.
2. What is the setting of the painting? A hill just outside small city with a castle.
3. Which buildings and structures are in the background of the painting? A castle, some houses, a road, and a bridge
4. What is the woman on the left side of the painting holding? A sword and a book.
5. What is the woman on the right side of the painting holding? A flower.
6. How do you know the man in the painting is a knight? From the title of the painting.
7. What is the knight doing in the painting? He is sleeping and dreaming of the women.

References

'Raphael.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.