Large Polychromed Oak Sculpture of Saint Roch

Carved in oak and retaining its original polychromy, this imposing sculpture represents Saint Roch (San Rocco), the patron saint invoked against plague. He is shown in the traditional manner, raising his garment to reveal a plague sore on his thigh, accompanied by a faithful dog offering bread. In his left hand he holds a book, while his right gestures outward in benediction.
The figure wears a short tunic, travelling cloak, and hat, evoking Roch’s identity as a pilgrim. The sculptor has emphasised the saint’s naturalism, with careful attention to the modelling of the beard, the folds of drapery, and the dynamic interaction between man and dog. The rear of the sculpture bears the painted date 1693, together with a small cross at the back of the neck, reinforcing its devotional purpose.
Works of this scale were typically commissioned for churches, confraternities, or plague chapels dedicated to Saint Roch, whose cult was especially prominent in Flanders in the wake of repeated epidemics. This sculpture thus embodies both the artistry of Flemish baroque woodcarving and the profound spiritual role of the saint in seventeenth-century devotional life.