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St. Barbara
Died - Late third century
Statue
carved - c. 1667-1668
This is one of 16 statues that were
installed between May 1667 and July 1668.
Sculptor
- Unknown
This work, though overall quite modest, reveals
a certain finesse with the treatment of the drapery.
This style is not reflected in other statues of the colonnade,
nor in the works of other sculptors who were employed during
this time period.
Height
- 3.1 m. (10ft 4in) travertine
St Barbara is shown here with traditional attributes.
The tower she leans against commemorates the place where she
was imprisoned by her father. Her left hand holds lightning, which refers
to her father being struck by lightning after he had her
beheaded.
St
Barbara became a popular saint, but the historical existence
of the details concerning the tower and lightning are
questionable. The Roman Martyrology states that, by tradition,
she was a virgin and martyr at Nicomedia.
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Saints on North Colonnade
37.
Benignus
36. Barbara
35. Fausta
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Saints on North Colonnade
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38. Malchus
37.
Benignus
36. Barbara
35. Fausta
34. Candida
33. Apollonius
32. Didymus
31. Marinus
30.
Eusignius |
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Sources:
Roma Sacra - San Pietro in Vaticano, Itineraries 21-22, ©Fabbrica
of St. Peter's, July 2001
Le Statue Berniniani del Colonnato di San Pietro by Valentino
Martinelli ©1987 by de Luca
Editore
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