St Barbara
Statuette
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The crowned figure of Saint Barbara stands with her head inclined to the right holding a crenellated tower with a truncated spire in her left hand. She presses a palm branch against her body with her right arm and her right hand rests on her breast.
The tower refers to her imprisonment by her Father.
The tower refers to her imprisonment by her Father.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Barbara (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted alabaster |
| Brief description | Alabaster statuette depicting St Barbara. English, 15th century. |
| Physical description | The crowned saint stands with her head inclined to her right. In her left hand she holds a crenellated tower, with a truncated spire; the tower is ornamented with a boss. She presses a palm branch against her body with her right arm, and her right hand rests on her breast. She wears a long gown and a cloak. Her eyes are unusually large. There are traces of red in the surviving paint which has become very darkened with age. The back of the figure, which also shows darkened paint, is incised with three sides of a rectangle surmounted by two parallel lines. There are two lead-plugged holes, one with a latten wire attached. The bottom has been cut away. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 3 sides of a rectangle surmounted by 2 parallel lines. Note On the back of the figure.; incising |
| 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 1922.Given by W. L. Hildburgh in 1946. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The crowned figure of Saint Barbara stands with her head inclined to the right holding a crenellated tower with a truncated spire in her left hand. She presses a palm branch against her body with her right arm and her right hand rests on her breast. The tower refers to her imprisonment by her Father. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 80 (cat. 9), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.31-1946 |
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| Record created | November 29, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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