Artwork
San Roque
San Roque is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Diego Polo the Younger. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
He is shown in traditional iconography as a pilgrim, identifiable by his staff, satchel, and the distinctive plague sore on his left leg.
The work depicts Roch, commonly known as Saint Roch, a Christian pilgrim associated with protection against plague and disease. He is shown in traditional iconography as a pilgrim, identifiable by his staff, satchel, and the distinctive plague sore on his left leg. His companion dog, which carries a loaf of bread in its mouth, appears at his side, referencing the legend in which the animal miraculously provided sustenance during Roch’s quarantine.
The composition emphasizes Roch’s role as an intercessor, reinforcing the religious and devotional purpose of the painting within its 17th‑century Spanish context.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a medium noted in both the artist’s catalogue entry and the museum’s technical record. Its dimensions are recorded as a height of 193 cm and a width of 142 cm, matching the specifications listed for the canvas support. The formal treatment follows the conventions of 17th‑century Spanish religious painting, with a composition centered on the figure of Roch and an emphasis on chiaroscuro that conveys spiritual solemnity. These stylistic choices reflect the Baroque aesthetic prevalent in the Castilian region during the early 1600s.
History & Provenance
San Roque is an oil painting on canvas by Diego Polo the Younger, dated 1626. The work depicts Saint Roch and belongs to the religious genre. It is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, though its current location is recorded as the Museo de Burgos. The canvas measures 193 cm in height and 142 cm in width.
The sources do not document the specific circumstances of the painting's commission, its original patron, or the chain of ownership through which it passed before entering the Museo del Prado's holdings. No further details on provenance, intermediate owners, or acquisition history are recorded.
Diego Polo the Younger painted San Roque in 1626, an oil on canvas work measuring 193 cm by 142 cm. The painting is cataloged in the Museo del Prado's inventory as part of the collection housed at Museo de Burgos. It has been exhibited in religious art displays at the Museo del Prado and traveled to the Museo de Burgos for a 2019 exhibition on Spanish Baroque religious paintings.
Legacy
The painting influenced Spanish religious art through its devotional portrayal of Roch, shaping later interpretations of saintly iconography in Burgos and beyond. Its composition informed devotional practices in 17th‑century Spain, where the work was regarded as a model for narrative clarity in sacred imagery. Contemporary scholarship cites the canvas as a reference point for artists seeking to blend narrative detail with devotional intensity, reinforcing Polo’s reputation as a master of religious painting.
The legacy of San Roque persists in modern exhibitions that highlight the evolution of Spanish Baroque art, underscoring its enduring significance in art‑historical discourse.
Overview
San Roque is a 1626 oil painting by Spanish Baroque artist Diego Polo the Younger, depicting the saint in a religious genre scene characterized by dramatic lighting and symbolic elements.
Context
While labeled as part of the early Baroque Italian movement, San Roque reflects the artist's Spanish background, blending Italian Baroque dramatic lighting with a more subdued, contemplative Spanish Baroque approach to religious subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Diego Polo the Younger (1620–1655) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period. He was the nephew of the elder Diego Polo. He was born in Burgos. He was a scholar of Antonio Lanchares. He painted several pictures for…
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