Church of St. Barbara in Šibenik is located not far from the
cathedral, on the east side, at the entrance to the old main town
square (today the Square of the Republic of Croatia) in King
Zvonimir Street. It was originally dedicated to St. Benedict, and
then St. Never because it belonged to the Benedictine abbey of St.
Nikola, which was once located in the Šibenik channel Sv. Ante, on
the site where the fortress of Sv. Nicholas from the 16th century.
Today, it houses the Museum of Church Art, which has been created in
Šibenik for centuries or has been delivered from outside.
History
Church of St. Barbara is a single-nave Gothic building
built in the first half of the 15th century. (from 1400 to 1447). It
has only two facades, north and west, because other buildings are
leaning against it on its south and east sides. The construction was
started by a prominent nobleman from Šibenik, Radoslav Mihetić, and
after his death was continued and completed by his son Ambroz, a
prominent lawyer, as evidenced by the inscription on the west facade
of the church on a round relief depicting a griffin. The Italian
artist Bonino da Milano (from Milan) also worked on the church, and
the side, northern portal of the Šibenik Cathedral is attributed to
his work. Bonino da Milano is considered the author of the character
of St. Nikola, located in a Gothic niche just above the main door on
the west facade of the church of Sv. Barbara. On the same façade is
a larger round stone slab of an old clock with a double number mark
(twelve in one circle, twenty-four in the other). Along with the
main baroque bell tower "na preslica" was added in 1775. even
bigger, the work of local master Jeronim Matulović.
On the north side of the church there is a richly decorated Gothic window, the work of Bonin, under which there is a Gothic niche of an unknown master with a relief of the Virgin on the throne with a child in his arms. To the right of the Virgin is a kneeling male figure with a cloak slung over his shoulder, arms folded, and his gaze directed toward Christ. The kneeling figure depicts the Šibenik doctor Marko, who in 1419. had this relief made as a votive gift, as evidenced by the inscription above the depiction of the physician. It is a unique example of a medieval relief depiction of a physician on the eastern Adriatic coast.
The interior of the church
The interior of the church is
richly decorated with works of art built mostly in wood. Right next
to the main door are two chapels, one of which was designed by the
famous Šibenik master Ivan Pribislavić. In the left chapel, on two
pillars, there are capitals with narrow leaves, the relief of St.
Nikola who holds an apple and the coat of arms of the Mihetić
family, the donor of the construction of this church. In the right
chapel, where in the 15th century. Šibenik goldsmith Stjepan
Milogostić was buried, the altar of St. Stephen. Ceiling cassettes
(taken down several years ago) are painted with angels, and a
beautiful balustrade separates the nave of the church from the
sanctuary where the gilded wooden altar is located.
Museum of
Church Art
Today in the church of St. Barbara housed the Museum
of Church Art which preserves valuable works of art and sculpture,
wood carvings and objects of applied art, made in the period from
the 14th to the 18th century. in various styles, from Romanesque to
Baroque. Here, among other things, is the triptych of St. Barbara in
Sv. Nicholas and St. Gregory from the 16th century, a polyptych by
Blaž Jurjev Trogir from the 15th century. which depicts the Virgin
Mary on the throne with a child in her arms, and the polyptych of
the Virgin Mary with saints from the 15th century, the work of the
Šibenik master Nikola Vladanov, which was once located on the main
altar of the church of Sv. Gregory. In a special display case is
kept the oldest exhibit - the Evangelist from the 11th century.
There are also exhibited Renaissance sculptures of St. Peter and St.
Jakov from the side, northern portal of the Šibenik Cathedral, the
work of Juraj Dalmatinac, which are considered his best and most
powerful sculptural achievements. The showcases also display the
works of the great goldsmith Horace Fortezza, who worked in Šibenik
in the 16th century. His works represent the meticulousness of
workmanship, richness and variety of motifs and characters. In the
church there is also a beautiful fence of the presbytery, and the
medallion of St. Barbara at the side door of the church.