Saint Roch

Saint Roch (1293-1327) was born into a rich family in Montpellier, but gave away his inheritance and embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome. Along the way he comforted victims of the plague, contracting the disease himself which resulted in a sore on his thigh. The Black Death ravaged Europe in the fourteenth century and Saint Roch became established as a protector of the sick. The Wallace Collection’s picture is one of the earliest representations of the saint, who became a favoured subject both as a devotional figure and as an intercessor with the Virgin on behalf of those hoping to be spared infection (cf. Cima P1). He is identified by his wound and by his pilgrim’s hat, cloak and staff. The picture is dateable c.1480, or a little later, and may have formed a pendant to a figure of Saint Sebastian (Milan, Poldi Pezzoli Museum) in a polyptych.

Crivelli worked primarily with tempera for his panel paintings. This medium allowed for the more detailed attention to textures and surfaces.

Tempera is a painting medium that uses egg yolk (or sometimes whole eggs) as a binder for pigments. It’s one of the oldest known painting techniques and was the dominant method of painting in the Western world before the development of oil painting.

Crivelli's work is often characterised by extreme attention to detail—especially in his depictions of luxurious fabrics, jewelry, and gilded elements. The matte finish of tempera was perfect for creating these sharp, clean details. Additionally, his use of tempera allowed for bright, vibrant colors, which you can see in the rich reds, blues, and golds of his works.