Saint Roch 1756

Francesco Bartolozzi created this engraving of Saint Roch, a plague saint, sometime in the late 18th century. The scene is dominated by a tonal contrast between the foreground with its dense etching, and the ethereal sky achieved by much sparser lines. The composition is structured around the figure of Saint Roch, who stands centrally amidst a scene of suffering. The linear quality of the engraving lends itself to a clarity of form, yet the hatching technique introduces a textural complexity that enlivens the surface. The landscape and figures are rendered with a semiotic precision. The arrangement of figures around Saint Roch isn't just a display of piety or suffering but a carefully constructed narrative space. Here, space, perception, power, and representation converge, reflecting the artistic and philosophical debates of the time. This engraving invites us to consider how Bartolozzi used form to convey meaning, challenging us to look beyond the surface and engage with the deeper cultural and philosophical currents that informed its creation.