Plague Victims Pleading for Help from Christ, the Virgin, and Saint Roch 1567 - 1573

Lattanzio Gambara made this drawing, Plague Victims Pleading for Help from Christ, the Virgin, and Saint Roch, in pen and brown ink with brown wash, during the latter half of the 16th century. It captures a moment of intense crisis and faith, reflecting the anxieties of a society ravaged by disease. Made in Italy, this image draws upon deep wells of religious culture. The composition, with its division between earthly suffering and divine intercession, reflects a hierarchical worldview common at the time. The plague-stricken figures below, rendered with expressive desperation, contrast with the idealized forms of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Roch above. The choice of Saint Roch, traditionally invoked against the plague, is particularly telling. As art historians, we examine this drawing through the lens of its historical context, researching the impact of plague outbreaks on Italian society, and exploring the role of religious institutions in providing solace and meaning during times of crisis. Only then can we start to understand the complex interplay between art, faith, and social experience in Gambara's work.