Artwork
San Roque
San Roque is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Diego Polo the Younger. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
San Roque is a 1626 oil painting by Spanish Baroque artist Diego Polo the Younger, depicting the saint in a religious genre scene characterized by dramatic lighting and symbolic elements.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Saint Roch, identifiable by his traditional attire and attributes: a staff, a book, and interaction with a youth, likely alluding to his patronage of plague victims or protective role. A winged figure (possibly an angel) in the background, holding a heart, reinforces themes of faith, healing, or divine protection.
Technique & Style
Polo employed strong chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with bright highlights to create sharp contrasts, making the central figures stand out against a somber, indistinct background of rocky forms and a dim sky.
History & Provenance
Created in 1626, San Roque is attributed to Diego Polo the Younger's early career, influenced by his training under Antonio Lanchares. The work is currently part of the Museo del Prado's collection.
Context
While labeled as part of the early Baroque Italian movement, San Roque reflects the artist's Spanish background, blending Italian Baroque dramatic lighting with a more subdued, contemplative Spanish Baroque approach to religious subjects.
Legacy
As a piece in the Museo del Prado, San Roque contributes to the broader understanding and exhibition of Spanish Baroque art, though specific details on its direct influence or notable exhibitions are not highlighted in available information.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Diego Polo the Younger (1620–1655) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period. He was the nephew of the elder Diego Polo. He was born in Burgos. He was a scholar of Antonio Lanchares. He painted several pictures for…
Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness
Christ on the Mount of Olives
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist Preaching
Sacrifice of Isaac
Abraham and the Three Angels
Biblical Scene
Saint Michael the Archangel Vanquishing Satan
The Sacrifice of Isaac
Saint John the Baptist
Tobias and the Fish
El profeta Elías y el ángel