Saint Roch at right distributing alms to a group of people gathered around him, after Annibale Caracci

Art Historical Context

In this evocative etching, Saint Roch stands at the right, compassionately distributing alms to diverse group of men and women gathered around him. Created between 1590 and 1610 by Pietro Stefanoni and Francesco Brizio a design by the renowned Annibale Carracci, print captures the saint's role as protector against plague and patron of the needy. Carracci, a leader of the Bolognese bridging Renaissance and Baroque, infused his compositions with naturalism and emotional depth, qualities faithfully reproduced here to inspire devotion and charity. The medium—etching combined with counterproof—adds technical intrigue. Etching allowed for fine lines and tonal subtlety, while the counterproof technique involved pressing a freshly inked impression onto a clean sheet, producing a mirror-image version often used by artists for study or correction. This 11 15/16 × 17 11/16 in. sheet, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies early modern printmaking's role in disseminating sacred imagery to a wider audience beyond elite patrons. During an era of recurring plagues in Europe, such depictions of Saint Roch held profound cultural resonance, blending piety with social commentary on aid and community. A testament to collaborative artistry, this work highlights how reproductive prints extended Carracci's influence, making high art accessible and enduring.

About the Artist

Pietro Stefanoni|Annibale Carracci|Francesco Brizio (Italian|Italian) · 1557 |1560 –1642 |1609

Italian, Valstagna ca. 1557– ca. 1642 Rome|Italian, Bologna 1560–1609 Rome