Spanish school, first half of the 17th century. "Saint Barbara". Carved and polychrome wood. Sculpture-reliquary. Faults in the wood and in the polychromy. Measurements: 48 x 20 x 12 cm. Spanish carving from the Baroque period. Worked in rounded bulk, the hollow present in its chest shows that it was used as a reliquary. The tower that the young woman holds in her left hand is enough to identify her as Saint Barbara. Depicted with her hair wavy and uncovered, unveiled, as befits her virgin status, the saint wears a long tunic, tight at the waist, which falls in naturalistic folds. By adopting a slight contrapposto, the bent knee brings out the drapery around her right leg. A second garment, the cloak, is also adapted to her harmonious waistline. The symmetry of her features harmonises with the serenity of her attitude. The carving is naturalistic but in this case does not seek any kind of dramatic effect. Compiled late in the 10th century and popularised in the West in the 13th century by the Golden Legend, the legend of Saint Barbara tells that she was the daughter of the satrap Dióscuro who, in order to keep her from Christian proselytism, locked her in an open tower with only two windows, piercing a third one herself in allusion to the Holy Trinity. However, Barbara was taught by a priest posing as a doctor, and to express her faith in the Trinity she pierced a third window in the wall. She managed to flee but was captured by her father, and when she refused to abjure Christianity and marry a pagan she was handed over to the judge Marcian, who tortured her in various ways. She was stretched on a rack and flogged, torn with iron combs, rolled on pottery shards and burned with red-hot irons, and finally the executioners tore out her breasts with pincers. Finally, her father beheaded her. Saint Barbara`s patron saints are widespread; she was considered to be a protector against lightning because her father, after killing her, was struck by lightning. Her name was also often inscribed on church bells, which were rung during storms. Her attributes are the palm of martyrdom and the crown, due to her royal origin, and the tower with three windows. It can also be accompanied by a peacock feather, a chalice topped with a host, a cannon or a cannonball, given that it became the patron saint of artillerymen in the 15th century for its protection against lightning and bad death.