Saint Roch
Original title: Saint Roch
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary depictions of Roch that show the saint alone with his plague sore, this anonymous engraving from about 1705–24 brings together two realms: the kneeling intercessor and suffering humanity. On a sheet of 24.4 by 14.2 cm, Roch appears in prayer while Christ and an angel hover above him.
Description
At the top, Jesus Christ appears, accompanied by an angel holding a scroll. Christ extends his hand to touch Roch, who kneels on a pedestal, wears a cloak and looks troubled. Below, people marked by the epidemic are seen: some lie on the ground, others tend to them. An angel with a scroll stands above them, and a woman at the right edge looks on. The inscription 'SANCTE ROCHE ORA PRO NOBIS' underscores the religious context.
Context
At the time of its creation, plague epidemics still occurred in Europe, and Roch was regarded as a patron saint against the disease. The pairing of the sick and intercession reflects the piety of the era and the hope for divine assistance. That the work has come down to us anonymously was not unusual for devotional prints, as they were often produced in large numbers for pilgrims and the faithful.
Impact
The clear separation of heavenly and earthly spheres creates a tension that draws the viewer in immediately. The precise execution and the expressive facial expression of the saint give the sheet a direct emotional impact.
Technique
The print was made as an engraving: lines are cut into a copper plate and then printed on paper. Fine hatching and precise contours allow for a high level of detail, as was characteristic of devotional images of this period.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)