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According to legend, Saint Christopher was a giant of a man who devoted his life to Christ. He would not pray, but accepted the task of carrying people, for God's sake, across a raging water. One day Christopher was carrying a child who grew so heavy that it seemed as if the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders. When Christopher completed his journey, he asked who the child was and the child made himself known as Christ.

Saint Christopher, whose name translates in Greek as "Christ Bearer," became the patron saint of travelers. The belief that whoever sees an image of the saint will be protected from sudden death for that day continues and images of Saint Christopher can often be found hanging from the rear view mirrors or on the dashboards of cars. The artist who painted this picture, thought to be Quentin Massys or his student, conveys the giant size of Christopher by setting him between huge boulders. The outer edges of the painting are dark as night, while the center of the painting, occupied by Christopher and his holy passenger, gleams and shimmers in light.

Compare this painting of Saint Christopher with the embroidered image of Saint Christopher on the Orphery Band, made about ten years later.

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