The Virgin and Child on the lap of St. Anne, with St. Roch and St. Sebastian 1512 - 1522

This engraving, made by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio around 1500, depicts the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, flanked by Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian, all intercessors against the plague. Note the celestial star with a comet-like tail which may connect to the plague that was devastating Europe. Consider Saint Sebastian, bound to a tree and pierced with arrows, a motif echoing the agony of Christ. This symbol of suffering and resilience appears across epochs, from classical depictions of martyrdom to modern-day emblems of endurance. The image of the bound figure resonates deeply, embodying pain and the strength to overcome. The plague saints' presence here speaks to a collective yearning for protection during times of crisis. The emotional weight of this piece lies in its appeal to our deepest fears and hopes, tapping into a cultural memory of shared suffering and the desire for salvation. Observe how such images recur, not as mere repetitions, but as echoes, each iteration colored by the anxieties and aspirations of its time.