Europe, Italy, ca. 18th century CE. An exquisite depiction of Santa Barbara created via a technique that is truly mindblowing! The image is finely painted on silver foil and then superimposed with a painstakingly hand-cut, lace-like paper overlay. Saint Barbara is dressed in elaborate embroidered and lace-trimmed garments of rich hues and sumptuous fabrics, holding a golden chalice as well as a huge peacock feather, a symbol of her immortality. Notice her chief attribute, a model of the tower where her father locked her away to discourage suitors at the lower right. (Was this the source for Rapunzel perhaps? See below.) All is set in an ornate gold-leaf frame with corner appliques that include seashell and floral motifs, quite characteristic of the 18th century Rococo period. Size: 7.125" L x 5.125" W (18.1 cm x 13 cm); 11" L x 9.375" W (27.9 cm x 23.8 cm) including frame

Words can barely do justice to the intricately cut paper overlay featuring a balanced, symmetrical design comprised of floral foliage tendrils undulating throughout, an inscription below the oval portrait that reads, "S. Barbara" handwritten in gold upon a billowing white ribbon and a pair of cross-hatched oval forms with radiating fronds or legs that may represent sea creatures or insects to the left and right, and a red and white ovoid crest at the top center.

Saint Barbara is a former Christian saint and virgin martyr believed to have lived in Asia Minor in the 3rd century. Her story dates to the 7th century and is retold in the Golden Legend. It is as follows: Dioscurus, the father of Barbara, was a heartless nobleman who had a tower built so that he could lock his daughter away to deter suitors. At first the tower only had two windows; however, Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third when her father wasn't looking. She also secretly admitted a priest disguised as a doctor, who baptized her to become Christian. When her father returned, Barbara declared that the three windows symbolized the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who ignited her soul. Dioscurus grew enraged and chased his daughter who had fled the tower. She hid in the crevice of a rock; however, a shepherd told her father of her hiding place. Once found, Barbara was dragged out by the hair and beaten by her father who next handed her over to the Roman authorities. She refused to renounce her Christian beliefs and was tortured. Miraculously, at the moment of her execution by her father's sword, he was struck by lightning, his body devoured by fire. In this painting, Santa Barbara holds a large peacock plume in her left hand to symbolize her immortality. She is regarded as the patron saint of armorers and firearms stemming from the theme of sudden death in her story, and is sometimes associated with the warrior saint George.

Provenance: private California, USA collection

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#134984

Silver foil painting shows slight wear and bending; however, it and the paper overlay are remarkably well preserved. Minor surface wear to the frame with a few scuffs and minute nicks, but generally very good.