1-156-503 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

'St Christopher Crossing the River', 1506-c1527. St Christopher reaches the bank with the Christ Child on his shoulder. The landscape is filled with strange creatures reminiscent of the work of Hieronymus Bosch. Legend has it that St Christopher was a 3rd century Canaanite giant whose task was to carry travellers across the water. One day he had to carry a child across the stream, but as he did so the child grew continually heavier until it seemed to Christopher that he was carrying the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. When questioned the child revealed himself as Christ, and as proof ordered Christopher to plant his staff in the ground. The next morning the staff had miraculously been transformed into a fruit-bearing palm tree. The miracle led to many people converting to Christianity, which enraged the local ruler, who had Christopher imprisoned, tortured and finally, beheaded.