St Barbara
Panel
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Saint Barbara carries a martyr's palm and a book as well as her usual emble, the tower in which she was imprisoned by her father.
Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.
Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Barbara (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved, painted and gilt alabaster |
| Brief description | Alabaster panel depicting St Barbara. English, 15th century. |
| Physical description | The crowned saint stands with her head inclined to her right. In her right hand she holds a two-tiered tower decorated with horizontal mouldings and a boss which may represent a cannon-ball. The tower is surmounted by a truncated spire. In her left hand she carries a closed book and presses a palm branch against her body. She wears a tight-fitting gown, and a loose cloak draped from the left shoulder. The panel has been broken across in the middle and repaired. The top right corner has also been broken away and repaired. Part of the top left corner has been repaired with plaster. Much colour and gilding remain on the figure. Green paint remains on the ground, with the usual daisy pattern. The main part of the tower is a mottled pinkish-brown colour. The boss and the spire are green. The book is red, the palm is green, and there are traces of gilt on the crown. There are traces of red on the cloak with blue in the folds. The back of the panel bears one lead-plugged hole. The bottom has been cut away. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris. On loan to the Museum from Dr Hildburgh since 1926. Given by Dr Hildburgh in1946. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Saint Barbara carries a martyr's palm and a book as well as her usual emble, the tower in which she was imprisoned by her father. Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 79 (cat. 8), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.136-1946 |
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| Record created | December 3, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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