People and entities commonly described or once thought of as saints in Christian beliefs. The images of many of these figures follow a consistent theme showing a particular aspect of their life history, or of their death. As such the symbolism within the image made recognition of saint possible in different compositions. Often the donor of a statue, painting, or stained glass window, would incorporate an image of a saint associated with the person commissioning the work.

  • Saint-Gregory

    Gregory I (540-604), was pope from 590 until his death. He is known for his prolific writings and for revising the worship of the western Christian church. He was canonized immediately after his death and he is the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers.

  • Saint-Helen

    Mother of the Emperor Constantine, and reputed to have discovered the relics of the True Cross.

  • Saint-James

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St James.

  • Saint-James-the-Greater

    The brother of St John the Evangelist. James was one of the three apostles that Jesus selected to bear witness to his Transfiguration. He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa in 44AD.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St James the Greater.

  • Saint-Jerome

    A 5th century saint and doctor of the church who translated the Bible into Latin (Vulgate).

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of Jerome.

  • Saint-Joachim

    Father of the Virgin Mary

  • Saint-John

    Brother of St James the Greater, a disciple of John the Baptist, and friend of St Peter. He went everywhere with Jesus and was the only one of the disciples that was with him at the Crucifixion. Called by Jesus the beloved disciple. He was the first of the disciples to reach the tomb on hearing of the resurrection and was the first to recognise him at Lake Tiberias.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St John.

  • Saint-John-Chrysostom

    John Chrysostom (347–407) was Archbishop of Constantinople, and one of the early Christian theologians who is regarded as a Saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

  • Saint-John-of-the-Cross

    John was a Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar, who along with St Teresa of Ávila is consider the founder of the mendicant order known as the Barefoot Carmelites.

  • Saint-Joseph

    Husband of the Virgin Mary and adopted father of Jesus.

  • Saint-Joseph-of-Arimathea

    Biblical figure who donated his tomb for Jesus’s burial. Later traditions link him to the Holy Grail and the Christianization of Britain.

  • Saint-Jude

    One of the apostles of Jesus, sometimes called Thaddaeus, and sometimes thought to be James the brother of Jesus. He is often depicted with a carpenters rule, or a club. Also he is shown carrying the image of Christ as Thaddaeus is supposed to have been the apostle sent to King Abgar who had received the Image of Edessa.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St Jude.

  • Saint-Lawrence

    Lawrence (Laurence) was a 3rd century figure who was martyred during the time Valerian by being grilled to death. St Lawrence has been associated with a relic in Valencia that is said to be the cup that Jesus and the Apostles drank from at the Last Supper.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St Lawrence.

  • Saint-Leger

    A Frankish bishop and martyr, celebrated for his piety and resistance to political corruption. Blinded and later executed on October 2, 678, after imprisonment and torture, he was canonized for his faith.

  • Saint-Leobinus

    Born near Poitiers this peasant boy became a 6th century hermit, abbot, and finally bishop of Chartres Cathedral

  • Saint-Louis

    King of France 1226-1270. Died whilst participating in the Eight Crusade, died in Tunis, North Africa. He was buried in the St Denis Basilica, and in 1297 he was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII at Orvieto.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St Louis.

  • Saint-Luke

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval life of St Luke.

  • Saint-Margaret-Marie-Alacoque

    Margaret Mary Alacoque was a 17th-century French nun and mystic best known for promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her visions and spiritual writings helped shape one of Catholicism’s most enduring devotions.

  • Saint-Margaret-of-Antioch

    A legendary 4th century figure, who refused marriage and was subsequently tortured, including being swallowed by a dragon, whipped, and finally killed.

    See "The Golden Legend" for the medieval story of Margaret of Antioch.

  • Saint-Mark

    The evangelist St Mark is reputed to have been the author of the second gospel in the New Testament. Some traditions says that he was John Mark a cousin of the disciple Barnabus, that he was a companion of Peter, and others that he was one of the 70 that were sent out to preach the Word.

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