Saint Roch Distributing Alms

Guido Reni

1610

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious lamentation of christ

About this work

Guido Reni shows Saint Roch giving coins to a poor man in a simple room. The saint’s calm face and the poor man’s ragged clothes make the moment feel real. Light falls on them while the background stays dark. Reni made this print in 1610 using etching and drypoint. You can see the needle’s scratchy lines in the shadows. The paper’s rough texture adds a handmade feel. Try looking up Reni’s painting Saint Roch Interceding for the Plague-Stricken next.