I am truely honoured to have this portrait done by Matteo Alfonsi as i am suchh a big fan of his work!
This portrait was especially done for an exhibition with the theme
"Martyrs" that will take place on Nov 2011 in London.
Saint Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers,
miners and others who work with explosives because of her old legend's
association with lightning.
She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising
from explosions of gunpowder.
She is the patron of the Italian Navy and is also recognized as the
patron saint of U.S. Navy.
According to the hagiographies the whip used to torture her
miraculously became a peacock feather, so it became part of her
