Saint Rosalie Interceding for the Plague-stricken of Palermo
Van Dyck was in Palermo, Sicily, when a plague broke out and the city was quarantined. In their despair, residents prayed to the city’s twelfth-century patroness, Saint Rosalie, whose long-lost remains were rediscovered in the midst of the epidemic. Images of Saint Rosalie were in great demand; this one was painted by Van Dyck on top of a self-portrait that he had sketched on the canvas. Acquired in 1871, this was one of the first European paintings to enter The Met collection.
Artwork Details
- Title: Saint Rosalie Interceding for the Plague-stricken of Palermo
- Artist: Anthony van Dyck (Flemish, Antwerp 1599–1641 London)
- Date: 1624
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 39 1/4 x 29 in. (99.7 x 73.7 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Purchase, 1871
- Object Number: 71.41
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.