Artwork

Saint Borromeo hands Supper to a person suffering from the plague

Saint Borromeo hands Supper to a person suffering from the plague is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Januarius Zick. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1794 by the German painter and architect Januarius Zick, this oil work belongs to the late Rococo period and is part of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s collection. The canvas presents a quiet interior where a figure in a red robe offers a bowl of food to a bedridden patient, surrounded by other ill individuals. The overall tone is subdued, emphasizing compassion amid disease.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates a charitable act associated with Saint Charles Borromeo, who is shown providing sustenance to a plague victim. The central exchange of the bowl underscores themes of mercy and spiritual care during an epidemic, while the surrounding sick figures reinforce the pervasive impact of the disease on the community.

Technique & Style

The brushwork remains smooth, characteristic of Rococo’s refined finish, yet the somber atmosphere departs from the style’s usual frivolity.

Zick employs a restrained palette of browns, beiges and muted reds, allowing the dim lighting to model forms through chiaroscuro. The contrast between illuminated faces and shadowed surroundings creates a sense of volume and draws attention to the act of giving. The brushwork remains smooth, characteristic of Rococo’s refined finish, yet the somber atmosphere departs from the style’s usual frivolity.

History & Provenance

After its completion in the late eighteenth century, the painting entered the holdings of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Zick has been consistently affirmed by museum records, confirming its place within his body of religious and architectural works produced toward the end of his career.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Januarius Zick

Johann Rasso Januarius Zick (6 February 1730 – 14 November 1797) was a German painter and architect. He is considered to be one of the main masters of the Late-Baroque.