Both Chaucer's Dream of Good Women and Loved Disguised as Reason by Burne-Jones contain ideas found in this painting, as also do other works by the artist.

This early work by Raphael was made in about 1504.

The sleeping knight may be intended to represent the Roman hero Scipio Africanus (236 - 184 BC) who was presented in a dream with a choice between Virtue (behind whom is a steep and rocky path) and Pleasure (in looser robes). However, the ladies 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.

A pricked cartoon for the painting is in the British Museum.