In the context of Altarpiece of Saint Barbara (Pérez), discuss the Theme of the Description.
The altarpiece features the image of Saint Barbara as the central figure. She holds in her right hand a palm frond, symbolizing martyrdom. Her left hand holds a tower, central to the story of her imprisonment. Above this central image is a scene of Calvary, depicting Christ with his mother and his disciple John. The walled background is representative of the walls of Jerusalem. Four panels in the side compartments depict eight scenes of the saint's life and passion. These scenes were later described in the 1486 medieval Catalan manuscript, Jardinet d'Orats.
The panel on the top left shows Saint Barbara's baptism in a holy stream. There is also a scene showing Barbara in front of the tower her tyrannical father, Dioscorus, began constructing in order to confine her. She is giving directions to the builder to add a third window to the building. For Saint Barbara, this was a way to represent the Holy Trinity.Below this, in the bottom left panel, Dioscorus learns about his daughter's acceptance of the new faith and threatens her with a sword. This causes Barbara to run away to the forest. Her father pursues her and her location is given away by a pastor. He is punished for this deed by being turned into stone.The panel on the top right narrates the torments inflicted on Saint Barbara. She was taken to the Praetor after her capture and sentenced to death after torture. The right side of the panel illustrates her breasts being pulled.The bottom right panel depicts two additional scenes. Barbara is being stoned by a group of males on the left, and on the right, she is beheaded by her father, the king. At the same time, the king and his accomplice are seen to be the target of a lightning strike and Barbara's soul is welcomed by an angel.The horizontal bank of small portraits depict religious figures. From left to right these are: Saint Ursula, Saint Luke, a grieving Mary, Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine.
holy stream Jardinet d'Orats Saint Barbara left