Flemish School. Mechelen. Late 15th century -... Lot n° 17

Flemish School. Mechelen. Late 15th century - Early 16th century. "Saint Roch". Carved, polychromed and gilded wooden sculpture. 36'5 x 14 x 7,5 cm. Our image shows Saint Roch in his most classic iconographic representation: dressed as a pilgrim with a short sackcloth, boots, hat and walking stick, and showing a sore on his leg that he had contracted during the plague. To his left, a dog with a loaf of bread in its mouth and, to his right, the figure of an infant who we believe could be the angel who cured his ulcer. A native of Montpellier in the second half of the 14th century, Saint Roch decided to share his fortune with the poor and needy and devoted himself to caring for them, leading a pilgrim's life. He is remembered for his generosity and dedication to the less fortunate; he was an example of charity and compassion. The canon of the clear and slightly bulging forehead, slanted eyes and small mouth correspond to the characteristics of Flemish sculptural production, specifically that ofMechelen. It is carved according to the dictates of the dynamism of Gothic sculpture, having the famous "compensatory posture," which is created by the forward placement of the leg opposite to the curved hip. In this way, the sculptor manages to create an extraordinary effect of drapery in motion. This sculpture should be classified as a "Poupéede Malines" or "Mechelen Doll". Thesewere small statues of the Virgin Mary, saints, or the Christ Child that were produced in sizeable quantities from the mid-15th century until 1515-30. They spread widely, precisely due to their format, which met the needs of private or domestic worship perfectly. The quality of the carving, along with the rich polychrome and the sweet and gentle expression onthe face, contributed to the popularisation of these small sculptures. It is known that they were among the Flemish goods that were shipped to the Iberian Peninsula or even to more distant lands such as the Canary Islands, Latin America, and the Philippines.