St Roch, from Montpellier, venerated as the protector against pestilence, is dressed in a pilgrim’s habit and wears the typical hat with St James’s scallop shell. His hair, moustache and beard are densely curled and neatly groomed; his beard is cut straight across. He wears a belted tunic, the folds of which follow the weight of the material from the waist down. The cloak is made of heavy fabric: it forms arched folds across the front, while the tail hangs out away from the left side of the saint’s body. St Roch is pointing with his left hand to the infected wound on his left thigh.
The carver was well acquainted with the Northern Renaissance fashion trends, as shown by the clipped beard in the style of Cranach. The drapery exhibits a dual character: the tunic is faithfully depicted, while the cloak is modelled rather clumsily; however, the hanging flap at the side again suggests a Northern-trained hand. Given that we know that the Pilgrimage Church of St Peter above Begunje was consecrated in 1523, we can assume that a smaller altarpiece, which incorporated this statue, was also created at around the same time.
Provenance: pilgrimage Church of St Peter above
Begunje