Requiescat

A dead knight and his hound

A knight in full armour lies on a bier draped with a rich blue cloth. At his side, a bloodhound sits and gazes up at his master’s face, waiting. The Latin title, Requiescat, means “may he rest.”

Briton Rivière painted the picture in 1888.

A hound that will not leave

The bloodhound sits upright, head raised, eyes fixed on the knight. Its body is tense and still. Rivière specialised in animals and was famous for showing their loyalty and feeling. Here the dog carries all the grief of the scene.

Polished armour, closed eyes

The knight lies with his face towards the dog, eyes closed. A wreath of leaves rests on his body. His armour shines in the dim light, painted with great care.

At the far right, his armoured feet end in pointed sabatons.

A rich blue cloth

The bier is covered with a long blue cloth embroidered with gold flowers. It falls in heavy folds to the floor, adding colour and dignity to the sombre scene.

Questions about Requiescat

What does Requiescat mean?

It is Latin for “may he rest,” from the prayer for the dead.

Who painted it?

Briton Rivière, in 1888.

What breed is the dog?

A bloodhound.

Why is it famous?

Its image of a faithful dog mourning its master became widely reproduced.

Sources and image credit

• Wikimedia Commons: Requiescat (Google Art Project)

Public-domain reproduction of Requiescat (1888), via Wikimedia Commons (Google Art Project). Detail images are crops of the same historical painting; no reconstruction or upscaling.