Saint Roch

Carlo Crivelli painted this Saint Roch around 1480, depicting the plague saint who was widely venerated as a protector against epidemic disease. Crivelli's treatment transforms the standard devotional subject into a display of his decorative virtuosity. The saint's pilgrim costume and plague wound are rendered with the sharp precision and ornamental richness that define Crivelli's unmistakable style. The oil medium allowed for rich tonal transitions and glazed layers of color that created luminous depth impossible with the older tempera technique.

Tempera and gold on panel with Crivelli's signature sharp linearity and elaborate decorative treatment. The saint's features and attributes are rendered with the meticulous detail characteristic of his mature style.