Artwork
A Man Asleep Alongside a Dog and a Horse
A Man Asleep Alongside a Dog and a Horse is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition pairs a human figure with two animals commonly associated with loyalty and companionship, presenting them in a quiet, restful grouping.
The small panel depicts a sleeping man accompanied by a dog and a horse, with these three figures identified as the painting's core subjects. The composition pairs a human figure with two animals commonly associated with loyalty and companionship, presenting them in a quiet, restful grouping. The work is dated to 1450 and attributed to the workshop or a follower of Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni) of the Veronese School, situating the scene within the early Italian Quattrocento tradition of intimate genre and pastoral imagery.
The use of sleep as a subject, together with the domesticated animals, suggests an emphasis on peaceful coexistence between man and beast rather than a narrative or devotional theme, reflecting the Veronese interest in lyrical, naturalistic motifs drawn from rural and courtly life.
History & Provenance
A Man Asleep Alongside a Dog and a Horse is a painting dated to circa 1450, attributed to the workshop or a follower of Stefano da Verona, also known as Stefano di Giovanni. The work measures 24.5 × 19.3 cm and was formerly in the private collection of Robert Lehman before entering the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued within the institution as a work of the Veronese School. Specific commission details are not recorded in the available data.
Legacy
The painting, attributed to the Veronese School and the workshop or followers of Stefano da Verona, was created around 1450. It measures 24.5 × 19.3 cm and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having been part of the Robert Lehman collection, a provenance that has contributed to its scholarly visibility and the ongoing assessment of the Veronese workshop's output within Renaissance art history.
Overview
This drawing, titled A Man Asleep Alongside a Dog and a Horse, captures a serene moment of repose. The composition features a man resting on the ground, accompanied by a standing horse and a small dog. Executed with a spontaneous hand, the work functions as a direct observation, focusing on the quiet interaction and shared tranquility between the figures. It exemplifies a preliminary study, emphasizing essential forms and the immediate impression of the scene.
Technique & Style
Characterized by its swift execution, the drawing employs loose and rapid lines, conveying a sense of immediacy and direct observation. The artist's hand moves with a spontaneous energy, akin to visual note-taking, rendering the forms of the horse's reins and the man's blanket with clarity despite their brevity. This approach prioritizes capturing the essence of the scene over polished detail, utilizing implied light and shadow to suggest volume and spatial relationships within the composition.
Artist & collection
