On View
Not on viewPaintings
DateEarly 1800s
Terms
- Paintings
- Glass
- Oil
- Continental Europe
Dimensions12.69 × 20.31 cm (5 × 8 in.)
MarkingsLabeled "S. Barbe".
Credit LineGift of Mr. Russell H. Kettell
Object numberPI0163
DescriptionPainting of oils on glass (reverse painting), wooden frame. Probably a representation of Saint Barbara. Represents the yellow-crowned head of a young girl with dark hair and eyes, in a blue dress trimmed with yellow and with pink sleeves. Painted in a green circle edged with black and decorated top and bottom with white and red conventional flowers and green leaves.
Saint Barbara, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara (3rd century - December 4, 306), was a Christian saint and martyr. Although there is no reference to her in the authentic early Christian writings, nor in the original recension of Saint Jerome's martyrology, veneration of her was common from the seventh century. Because of doubts about the historicity of her legend,[1] she was removed from the official Catholic calendar in 1969. However, she continues to be a popular saint in modern times, perhaps best known as the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers, miners and others who work with explosives because of her legend's association with lightning. Many of the thirteen miracles in a 15th-century French version turn on the security that her devotees would not die without making confession and receiving extreme unction.[2] In art, Saint Barbara is depicted in art as standing by a tower with three windows, carrying a palm branch and a chalice, sometimes with cannons depicted by her side (wikipedia.com, Feb. 9, 2009).
Saint Barbara, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara (3rd century - December 4, 306), was a Christian saint and martyr. Although there is no reference to her in the authentic early Christian writings, nor in the original recension of Saint Jerome's martyrology, veneration of her was common from the seventh century. Because of doubts about the historicity of her legend,[1] she was removed from the official Catholic calendar in 1969. However, she continues to be a popular saint in modern times, perhaps best known as the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers, miners and others who work with explosives because of her legend's association with lightning. Many of the thirteen miracles in a 15th-century French version turn on the security that her devotees would not die without making confession and receiving extreme unction.[2] In art, Saint Barbara is depicted in art as standing by a tower with three windows, carrying a palm branch and a chalice, sometimes with cannons depicted by her side (wikipedia.com, Feb. 9, 2009).
Collections
- Artworks
Object number: PI1411
Object number: PER1146.1AI
Object number: 2022.9.19
Allen French
September 1935
Object number: Pi1177
Abigail May Alcott Neiriker
ca. 1869