Saint Roch Carried to Heaven by Angels c. 1735 - 1745

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this chalk and gouache drawing, Saint Roch Carried to Heaven by Angels, in the 18th century. Tiepolo, who lived in Venice during the height of the Enlightenment, created religious works that reflect the shifting cultural values of his time. Saint Roch was a 14th-century Christian saint, known as the protector against the plague. Here, Tiepolo imagines the saint’s ascent to heaven, carried aloft by angels. The sensuous figures and dramatic composition capture an emotional intensity, characteristic of the Baroque style. The saint’s upward gaze and open arms invite us to join him in his spiritual ecstasy. Tiepolo’s art was made for a society undergoing significant changes to its understanding of science, religion, and the natural world. While maintaining traditional narratives, Tiepolo’s work introduced a sense of heightened emotion that was new to religious art. It invited viewers to engage with the divine on a deeply personal level.