Stained Glass Panel with Saint Roch, the van Merle Family Arms and a Donor

Art Historical Context

This stunning 16th-century German stained glass panel, crafted by an unknown artist, depicts Saint Roch—patron saint of plague victims—flanked by the van Merle family coat of arms and a kneeling donor figure. Towering nearly seven feet high (82 7/8 x 29 5/16 inches overall), it was likely commissioned for a church, embodying the era's fusion of piety, patronage, and heraldry. Gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Duveen Brothers in 1912, it now graces the Medieval Art department, a testament to Northern Renaissance devotion amid frequent epidemics. The artwork's historical significance lies in its role as a votive offering: donors like the van Merle family portrayed themselves in prayer, securing intercession from Saint Roch during turbulent times of disease and Reformation. Such panels illuminated sacred spaces, transforming sunlight into vibrant narratives that educated and inspired worshippers. Artistically, it masterfully employs pot metal glass for bold colors, white glass for clarity, vitreous paint for fine details like facial expressions and folds, and silver stain for luminous yellow-gold accents. Divided into three sections (a, b, c) with T-bars for stability, this technique highlights the enduring ingenuity of German stained glassmakers in the late Gothic tradition.