I come back to what Thirteen mentioned - up til the beginning of the 20 century death was called "Schlafes Bruder" meaning Sleep´s Brother in German.
As I experienced the same problems with that card (and still experience) here are my poor thoughts that were meant to convince me (and still don´t to 100% ):
The place is obviously a chapel or church. Why would you rest there with a sword ? In former times, before you became knighted and thus empowered to carry a sword, the "Knappe" (knave in English ?) spent at least one night in a chapel with his sword, meditating, praying, exploring his inner self. Our fellow here has his hands folded, so I am not absolutely sure that he his asleep. It could as well be, that he took a comfortable position for meditation
(that harmonize with the pillow behind his head as well, because it would not have any use for a dead person. I admit that "having no use" doesnt´t necessarily mean that it wouldn´t be done.)
But an other argument that convinces me most is rather simple: The colours are far too bright to fit Death
btw: I like your new location, firemaiden ! Unfortunately I cannot take part in the Toto thread any more, as it was moved to a thread that only subscribers can visit, subscription works via penpal and there is no penpal in Austria