Saints in Art

This article is about how the saints are depicted in art.
Saint Agatha (231- 251)
Saint Agatha is usually depicted as a young girl carrying her breasts or loaves of bread on a platter. Other attributes shown with her can be tongs, shears or a palm.
Saint Agnes (291-304)
Saint Agnes is usually depicted as a young girl carrying a lamb and holding a palm. Sometimes she is depicted with a dove with a ring in its beak or she can also depicted with a sword as a symbol of her martyrdom.
Saint Andrew the Apostle (d.60)
Saint Andrew is usually depicted as an old man with an X-shaped cross. He also is shown holding a book.
Saint Anthony of Egypt (251-356)
Saint Anthony of Egypt/ Saint Anthony the Great or Saint Anthony the Abbot is usually depicted as an old hermit usually being tempted. He is often shown with a pig or staff.
Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Saint Anthony of Padua is often depicted as a Franciscan. He is also often depicted carrying Christ child and holding lilies.
Saint Apollonia (d.249)
Saint Apollonia is usually depicted as a young girl holding tongs with a tooth in it. She is also shown holding a palm.
Saint Barbara (d.306)
Saint Barbara is usually depicted as a young girl carrying a tower or holding a chalice. She also is shown holding a palm and a sword.
Saint Basil the Great (330-397)
Saint Basil the Great or Saint Basil of Caesarea is usually depicted as a bishop. He is often shown holding a book or scroll.
Saint Blaise (d.316)
Saint Blaise is usually depicted as a bishop holding two candles (often crossed). He is also usually shown healing a boy from choking and also depicted with a comb.
Saint Boniface (675-754)
Saint Boniface of Tarsus is usually depicted as a bishop piercing a book with a sword. He is often shown with an axe.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria (287-305)
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is usually depicted as a woman wearing a crown. She is often shown holding a broken spiked wheel and a sword.
Saint Cecilia (d.230)
Saint Cecilia is usually depicted playing a musical instrument often a piano. She also holds a palm.
Saint Christopher (d.251)
Saint Christopher is usually depicted as a giant carrying the Christ child across water. He is also sometimes shown with a tree or branch.
Saint Clement I (d.99/101)
Saint Clement I or Saint Clement of Rome is usually depicted as a pope wearing a papal tiara. He is shown with an anchor and palm.
Saint Dismas (d.33)
Saint Dismas or the good thief is depicted as a man crucified next to Jesus Christ.
Saint Dorothy of Caesarea (d.311)
Saint Dorothy or Dorothea of Caesarea is usually depicted as a young girl carrying a basket with flowers and fruits inside it. She also holds a palm.
Saint Erasmus (d.303)
Saint Erasmus or Elmo is usually depicted as a bishop with a windlass.
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/2-1226)
Saint Francis of Assisi is usually depicted as a Franciscan. He is often surrounded by animals. He shown receiving the stigmata.
Saint Genevieve (419-512)
Saint Genevieve is usually depicted as a sheperdess. She is often holding a candle.
Saint George (280-303)
Saint George is usually depicted as a young soldier wearing armour. He is often shown riding a white horse while slaying a dragon away from a princess. Other attributes shown with Saint George is a spear and a white flag with a red cross on it.
Saint Helena (246/50-327/30)
Saint Helena or Saint Helen usually depicted as a woman wearing a crown carrying the true cross (the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on).
Saint Hippolytus of Rome (170-235)
Saint Hippolytus of Rome is usually depicted as a man being torn apart by horses.
Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636)
Saint Isidore of Seville is usually depicted as an archbishop. Often shown writing while surrounded by a swarm of bees.
Saint James the Greater (d.44)
Saint James the Great or Saint James Major is usually depicted as a pilgrim. He is often shown riding a horse to kill moors.
Saint James the Less (d.62)
Saint James the Less or Saint James Minor is usually depicted as a man with a fuller's club and loaves of bread.
Saint Jerome (347-420)
Saint Jerome is usually depicted as an old man in the wilderness. He often depicted with a book or lion. He is also shown as an old man wearing a red robe while writing. He is depicted wearing a red tassled hat or depicted with a red tassled hat nearby.
Saint John the Baptist (d.31)
Saint John the Baptist is usually depicted as a man baptising Jesus. He is often wearing rags with a lamb next to him.
Saint John the Evangelist (15-100)
Saint John the Evangelist is usually depicted as a man wearing red robes. He is often shown with an eagle next to him as he writes.
Saint Joseph (90 BC-18 AD)
Saint Joseph is usually depicted as an old man carrying the Christ child. He also is shown with wood and lilies.
Saint Lawrence (225-258)
Saint Lawrence of Rome is usually depicted as a deacon with a gridiron and palm.
Saint Leo I (400-461)
Saint Leo I or Saint Leo the Great is usually depicted as a pope wearing a papal tiara.
Saint Lucy (283-304)
Saint Lucy is usually depicted as a young girl carrying her eyes on a platter. She is also usually holding a palm or a sword.
Saint Mark the Evangelist (d.68)
Saint Mark the Evangelist is usually depicted as a man writing with a winged lion next to him.
Saint Martin of Tours (316/36-397)
Saint Martin of Tours is usually depicted as a soldier. He is often depicted riding a horse as he gives his cloak to a beggar.
Saint Nicholas of Myra (270-343)
Saint Nicholas of Myra is usually depicted as a bishop carrying three gold balls. He is also shown saving sailors from a storm or raising three boys.
Saint Paul the Apostle (5-67)
Saint Paul the Apostle is usually depicted as a man with a long beard. He is often shown with a sword and a book. Saint Peter the Apostle is sometimes depicted with him.
Saint Peter the Apostle (d.64)
Saint Peter the Apostle is usually depicted as an old man holding keys. He is often depicted being crucified upside down or wearing papal vestments.
Saint Stephen (d.34)
Saint Stephen is usually depicted as a deacon. He is often carrying stones and holding a palm.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Saint Thomas Aquinas is usually depicted as a Dominican. He is often shown writing or holding a model of a church.
Saint Ursula (d.383)
Saint Ursula is usually depicted as a young girl with an arrow in her neck. She also wears a crown with a huddle of children under her cloak.
Saint Vitus (290-303)
Saint Vitus is usually depicted as a 12-13 year old child in a cauldron. He often is shown with a rooster and a palm.
Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907-935)
Saint Wenceslaus is usually depicted as a king. He is depicted holding a shield and palm.

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