Pisanello, The Vision of St. Eustace

Circa 1440
Tempera on wood, 55 x 65 cm
National Gallery, London

Dressed in the finery to be expected of a 15th-century knight, the 2nd-century soldier encounters a deer with a crucifix between its antlers. This encounter will lead him to Christianity and thence to a martyr's death.

The pagan life that Eustace will abandon may be suggested by his luxurious clothing and gear. The hare chased by a dog in the lower right is probably another indication of the life he will abandon. Hares were thought to represent persons who were inconstant and "double-minded."

Read more about images of images of St. Eustace.
Read more about hare symbolism.

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