St. Roch, Patron of Dogs and Dog-Lovers, Handmade Statue

Description

The story of St. Roch and his dog is especially interesting because in it the dog saves the saint. I design, carve, and cast the statues myself: they’re wholly original. I cast them in modified gypsum (a very strong sculptural material). The pieces come boxed, can stand or hang (there's a hook on the back, which is flat and unpainted), and can go outside. Each piece comes with a history card stating: "Saint Roch was born in France in 1295. When as a young man he heard that the plague had reached Italy, he walked from Montpelier to Rome to help the victims. While in Rome, Roch himself caught the plague. Believing he was soon to die, he went into the forest at the edge of the city, built a small hut, and began to pray and prepare himself for death. As he was in prayer, a dog came to him holding a piece of bread in its mouth. Roch took the bread from the dog. The dog then licked the plague wounds on Roch's leg, and the wounds were healed. Roch ate the bread, and, brought back to wholeness by the dog and his gifts, he and the dog returned to Rome, where they worked to heal others and comfort the dying. The story demonstrates both the bond between humans and dogs and the power of each to heal and rejuvenate the other. This image of Roch was handmade by Hank Schlau." Dimensions: 6.5 inches high x 2.5 inches wide.