“Like a Wolf Takes a Sheep”: The Wall Paintings of the Chapel of St Barbara in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca

A unique cycle of wall paintings depicting the story of St Barbara, discovered in the Chapel of St Barbara at the Old Cathedral of Salamanca (Spain), has been found to be exceptionally well preserved and dates back to c. 1350-1360. These paintings, commissioned by Bishop Juan Lucero during the construction of the chapel, offer a rare glimpse into the hagiographic tradition of St Barbara in the Crown of Castile. Unlike other European regions, this cycle adheres strictly to the account numbered 915 in the Bibliotheca Hagiographica Latina, which was preferred until the 16th century and led to striking scenes, including a unique representation of St Barbara's self-baptism, unparalleled elsewhere. The study highlights the significance of these paintings in understanding the development of this controversial yet popular saint's iconography within Castilian orthodoxy.

Gutiérrez Baños, F. (2021). “Like a Wolf Takes a Sheep”: The Wall Paintings of the Chapel of St Barbara in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca. Ikon, 14, 121–132. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.ikon.5.128297