French, Champagne, circa 1530

with an old label inscribed: 2.165

Madame Martin, Cannes
on loan to Museum Schnütgen, Cologne, September 2009 to December 2012

There are restorations to the right side of the base and the dog's legs and tail. A fissure runs along the base at the reverse. There are chips and losses throughout including to the saint's hat, his hair at the front, to the collar on the proper right side, the drapery below the right arm, the dog's tail and the edges of the base. There are circular holes to the Saint's drapery at the proper right side and the cloak between the proper left arm and abdomen. There are losses and craquelure to the polychromy throughout. Otherwise the condition of the statue is stable.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present sculpture represents Saint Roch exposing his thigh, which is marked by the Plague. He is accompanied by his distinctive attribute: a dog offering a nourishing loaf of bread. The present composition is particularly affecting for the Saint’s expression of weariness and his gentle handling of his four-legged companion.

The present work compares well to Saint Roch, l’ange et le chien, which dates to the same century, in the Church of Saint-Pierre in Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, Champagne-Ardenne, illustrated by Leroy (op. cit.). The dogs in both sculptures willingly jump up to their Saint, who are dressed in similar garments. The Saints share the same fine facial features and a similarly shaped leg which tapers at the knee. Also note a Saint Roch from the Church of Saint-Clair in the Champagne region (op. cit.). The fine facial features, fall of the hair, nod of the head and shape of the beard all compare closely with the present sculpture.

RELATED LITERATURE
P.E. Leroy, Sculptures en Champagne, au XVIe siècle, Dijon, 2009, p. 202