The Martyrdom of St. Barbara, Monacelli

Monacelli, The Martyrdom of St. Barbara

Church of Santa Barbara dei Librari, Rome

Barbara's father Dioscorus, dressed as a Roman soldier, holds her head by the hair as he raises his right arm to behead her. The dark cloud above him presages his own imminent death, in contrast to the brightening sky on the left. Behind Dioscorus is the tower that Barbara fitted with three windows for the Trinity.

This fresco is probably from the 17th century. It sits just above Garzi's 17th-century painting of the saint's being welcomed into Heaven. The style of Barbara's garments would be consistent with this dating.

Monacelli's name is given by an internet source; I have not found any information on an artist of such a name.

Read more about images of St. Barbara.

Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.