St Barbara of Nicomedia (detail; M 070) Ceramic Tree Decoration

In this detail, St. Barbara of Nicomedia proffers the infant Jesus (not visible here) a red rose. The red rose, in the religious language of flowers, is a symbol of love and affection. Red rose bushes dominate the garden setting depicted in this painting. + St. Barbara is readily distinguished from the other virgin martyrs present in the garden by her richly ornamented, ermine-lined cloak. The cloak is embroidered in metallic thread with towers. Towers also form a chain--like a sweater grip--holding her mantle across her shoulders. From them, hang letter “B” charms. + According to tradition, her overprotective father Dioscorus had St. Barbara imprisoned in a tower to prevent her corruption by the world. During the construction of a bathhouse, St. Barbara entreated the architect to install three windows instead of two. Already a closet Christian, she wished the building to serve as a monument to the Holy Trinity. Artists throughout the ages conflated the more picturesque and biographically significant tower with that three-windowed building. After a daring escape and several adventures, she was brought to trial for her faith and beheaded by her own father. + Feast: December 4 + Image Credit (M 070): Detail of Virgo inter Virgines [in Latin; La Vierge parmi les vierges in French; The Virgin among Virgins in English], by The Master of the Legend of St. Lucy (fl. c. 1435-1506/1509), oil on oak panel, 67.3"x42.5" (171 cm x 108 cm), c. 1488, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, inv. 2576. From Wikimedia Commons {PD-Art|PD-Old-100}. The image file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighbouring rights.