Through the nature of the river crossing story, Saint Christopher became known as the patron saint of travellers and a symbol of safe travel and protection. As St. Christopher came to symbolise protection for travelers, many churches placed images or statues of him in prominent locations to be easily seen.
In the Middle Ages, Saint Christopher became one of the most popular patron saints for travellers, and this tradition has continued ever since.
Throughout history, the legend of St. Christopher has been featured in countless paintings and sculptures. Religious concepts were a popular art subject during the Renaissance, so many works featuring St. Christopher’s story were created at this time, some by highly regarded artists such as Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch and Italian painter Giovanni Battista Piazzetta.
Saint Christopher was typically depicted as a man of great stature with a child sitting on his shoulder and a staff in his hand. This imagery has remained constant through the ages and is the same scene that depicts St. Christopher to this day.
Because St. Christopher symbolises safe travel, the saint has remained popular in modern times in the form of St. Christopher medals. St. Christopher's medals can be in the form of a keychain or simple charm, but the most popular display is on a necklace.