St. Roch

The print St. Roch was executed in 1532 by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560), working after a design or composition by the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520). This work is a detailed engraving in black on paper, classified as one of the significant reproductive prints produced in Italy during the mid-Cinquecento. Master of the Die specialized in translating the large-scale compositions of his great predecessor into the scalable medium of the print, thereby ensuring the widespread diffusion of Raphael’s influential style across Europe.

The subject, Saint Roch, is depicted with his customary iconography, recognizable by his pilgrim’s staff and the visible wound on his thigh-details indicative of his status as a patron saint against the plague. Such devotional subjects were highly sought after for both private study and widespread distribution in 16th-century Italy. This engraving, executed early in the Die’s career, demonstrates the clear, classicizing form and dramatic emphasis on contrapposto typical of compositions inspired by Raphael. The technique of the Die successfully captures the gravitas and monumentality inherent in the original design.

As a vital example of Renaissance reproductive prints, the work allows modern audiences to study the influence of Raphael decades after his death. The piece is held in the comprehensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key reference point for the study of Italian graphic arts. Because this historic work is now in the public domain, the precise detail of the Die’s masterful engraving technique remains accessible to scholars and collectors worldwide.