Pierre Roche, pseudonym of Fernand Massignon
French, 1855-1922
Christ Marchant sur les Eaux (Christ Walking on the Water), c. 1900
Watercolor over pencil

Golden light from the rising sun breaks through billowing clouds from night’s turbulent storm. Solid and steadfast, Christ miraculously strides upon the surface of rippling waves. The story of Christ walking on water is told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John. Traditionally, artists depict the moment Jesus reaches the disciples, as they struggle to row into wind. Here, Christ meditates calmly, gliding towards them in the morning light. The disciples’ faraway boat is a tiny sketch on the horizon, emphasizing the solitary nature of his burden. Symbolist artist Pierre Roche used color to convey emotional and spiritual significance. The sun’s warm hues glow around Christ on a calm Sea of Galilee, offering a sense of contemplative hope. Roche's drawings in private collections are extremely scarce; this is one of his most finished evocative drawings.