The Tyrant Orders the Removal of St. Barbara's Breasts

16th century
Oil on panel
Palazzo Bellomo, Syracuse, Sicily

The inscription in Italian says, "When the tyrant commanded that her breasts be cut off." In the corresponding passage Caxton has "Then commanded the judge to the hangman that he should cut off with his sword her paps, and when they were cut off, the holy saint looked again towards heaven, saying: Jesu Christ, turn not thy visage from me."

View the entire altarpiece.
View this image in full resolution.
Read more about St. Barbara.

• Home Page
• St. Barbara
• The Palazzo Bellomo Altarpiece
• This Page

Photographed at the site by Claire Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.