Not currently on display at the V&A

St. Barbara

Relief
third quarter of 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Laurana, Francesco (sculptor)
Place of origin
Tuscany (made)
Naples (made)

This statuette was priorly attributed to the school of Andrea Pisano, carved in Tuscany, but is more likely to have been carved in Naples by a sculptor in the following of Francesco Laurana.

It is possibly representing St. Barbara, when interpreting the inscription as an invocation against thunder.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Religion
Reliefs
Object type
Relief
TitleSt. Barbara (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble, carved in high relief
Marble
Carving
High Relief
Brief description
Statuette, marble carved in high relief, probably representing St. Barbara, probably by a follower of Francesco Laurana, Italy, third quarter of 15th century
Physical description
This panel in marble, carved in high relief depicts a statuette of St. Barbara, standing on a bracket and holding a three storied tower in her left hand and a scroll in her right. Inscription on the scroll.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.72cm
  • Width: 29.21cm
Marks and inscriptions
'XPS.REX.VENIT.IN.PACE.ET.DEVS./HOMO.FATVS.EST.VERBVM.CARO.FATVM.EST' (Inscription on scroll)
Object history
Acquired in Naples, for 3l. 14s.
Historical context
This statuette was priorly attributed to the school of Andrea Pisano, carved in Tuscany, but is more likely to have been carved in Naples by a sculptor in the following of Francesco Laurana.
Subjects depicted
Bracket
Tower
Scroll
St. Barbara
Summary
This statuette was priorly attributed to the school of Andrea Pisano, carved in Tuscany, but is more likely to have been carved in Naples by a sculptor in the following of Francesco Laurana.

It is possibly representing St. Barbara, when interpreting the inscription as an invocation against thunder.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 27
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 8
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 289, 90.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
7451-1861

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O313100/st-barbara-relief-laurana-francesco/
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