ticketsMember | Make a donation

Saint Roch

1502
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 609
This altarpiece by Francesco Francia, the leading artist in Bologna, was painted in 1502 for the church and hospital of Santa Maria della Morte (Holy Mary of Death). It depicts Saint Roch, who died in 1376 or 1377 after being unjustly imprisoned in Montpellier. The bubo on Saint Roch’s thigh shows that he is a plague saint whose powers lie in curing the sick. His mission as both a healer and a patron saint of the falsely accused reflects the hospital’s commitment to caring for prisoners and victims of the Black Death. On the feast day of Saint Roch, members of Santa Maria della Morte honored his memory by releasing a prisoner.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Roch
  • Artist: Francesco Francia (Italian, Bologna ca. 1447–1517 Bologna)
  • Date: 1502
  • Medium: Tempera on wood
  • Dimensions: 85 1/4 x 59 3/8 in. (216.5 x 150.8 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of George R. Hann, 1965
  • Object Number: 65.220.1
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Hercules and Dejanira, Francesco Francia Italian, Silver, niello, Italian, Bologna
Hercules and Dejanira
Francesco Francia
Peregrino da Casena
late 15th century
Francesco degli Alidosi, Cardinal of Pavia 1505, Legate of Bologna and Romagna, 1508-11, Francesco Francia Italian, Bronze, Italian
Francesco degli Alidosi, Cardinal of Pavia 1505, Legate of Bologna and Romagna, 1508-11
Francesco Francia
1505–1510
Giovanni II Bentivoglio 1443–1508, Lord of Bologna 1463–1506, Francesco Francia Italian, Bronze, Italian
Giovanni II Bentivoglio 1443–1508, Lord of Bologna 1463–1506
Francesco Francia
1494
Cardinal Francesco degli Alidosi, Francesco Francia Italian, Bronze, Italian
Returned to lender
Cardinal Francesco degli Alidosi
Francesco Francia
ca. 1505–1511
Madonna and Child with Saints Francis and Jerome, Francesco Francia Italian, Oil and gold on wood
Madonna and Child with Saints Francis and Jerome
Francesco Francia
ca. 1512–15

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.