Saint Roch

By Unknown, Early 1600s
JPG • 1216 × 3400 PX • 1.6 MB
Curatorial Notes

This Japanese painting on cloth, dating to the early 17th century, depicts Saint Roch, a Christian saint traditionally invoked for protection against plague. He stands wearing a broad black hat, a pale cloak fastened at the chest, and a blue-gray tunic. Holding a tall pilgrim's staff, he lifts his garment to reveal a wound on his thigh, a characteristic attribute of his iconography. Above his head, a curling scroll bears the Latin inscription “SANCTVS ROCHVS,” identifying the saint. Flowers and dark foliage fill the foreground. According to hagiographic tradition, Roch cared for plague victims before contracting the disease himself. Produced in Japan during the final years of the Momoyama period, the painting testifies to the presence of Christian religious imagery in Japanese art at a time when Christianity was facing increasing restrictions.

Artwork Identification

Title Saint Roch
Title (PT) São Roque
Title (ES) San Roque
Artist Unknown
Date Early 1600s
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta