Artwork

Saint Roch

Saint Roch, by Albrecht Dürer, ink, 1500
Saint Roch, by Albrecht Dürer, ink, 1500

Saint Roch is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Saint Roch is a woodcut print created around 1500 by Albrecht Dürer, portraying the eponymous saint in a characteristic pose.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Saint Roch, a bearded, cloak-wearing pilgrim, standing and gazing upwards, with a visible leg wound. This representation highlights his association with enduring plague-related suffering, conveying a sense of strength and calm.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the work exemplifies Dürer's mastery of this medium, inviting exploration of the technique's expressive capabilities.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1500, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.

Context

Saint Roch's portrayal reflects the religious and devotional themes prevalent in early 16th-century European art, particularly the veneration of saints associated with the plague.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Albrecht Dürer

Artist

Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.