Painting of St. Barbara

Abstract

A painting depicting St. Barbara was created in the second half of the 18th century. The painting depicts St. Barbara in a classic iconographic convention, holding her traditional attributes in her hands - a chalice with the Host which was brough to her by an angel to her prison cell, and the sword, with which she was beheaded. Saint Barbara came from a wealthy, Pagan family. Her first encounter of the Christian faith was during her study in Nicomedia. In an attempt to force her to renounce the Christian faith, her father locked her in a tower. She was beheaded around the year 306. The painting was placed in the finial of the altar which was created after 1718. In the 19th century, the painting of St. Barbara underwent a thorough renovation, during which a halo was added above her head and rays were painted around the Host, together with an inscription of IHS. A large part of the background was also repainted, together with the Saint's garment and tan. These alterations were then removed during the painting's last conservation carried out in 1992-1993.