Saint Roch Recommending a Woman with a Sick Child to the Virgin (recto); Figure of a Man Holding a Book; Nude Figure of a Man (verso) 1500 - 1600

Editor: We're looking at a drawing called "Saint Roch Recommending a Woman with a Sick Child to the Virgin," and, check this out, there are other drawings on the back. This piece dates back to sometime between 1500 and 1600. I believe the artist is unknown. It's currently housed at the Met, made of pencil and charcoal. What strikes me is its ethereal, almost dreamlike quality... What do you see in it? Curator: It's a dance between the earthly and the divine, isn’t it? That sketchy style almost feels like the artist is searching, groping towards understanding. Saint Roch, a protector against plague, is there—staff and all. Look at how the Virgin hovers above, a beacon of hope in uncertain times. Does the somewhat unresolved quality feel moving to you? Editor: Absolutely. There's vulnerability in the incomplete sketch, reflecting the desperation and hope present in the narrative. Curator: Yes! It also hints at the artistic process itself, doesn't it? We see the artist thinking, rethinking, revising. I find that honesty quite endearing. Now, the drawing on the verso... do you think it connects to this scene, or might it be a totally different study? Editor: That's a great question! Perhaps just practical resource-saving or the other way around? It's interesting to consider the relationships between the different drawings and to think about the artist's intentions with it. Curator: Exactly! Each line carries history, doubt, belief... It’s like holding a whispered prayer. A great way to engage with an image, by understanding its own story! Editor: Totally changed how I see the piece - thanks!