In single figures and devotional pictures, St. James is generally leaning on this club, the instrument of his martyrdom. According to an early tradition, he so nearly resembled our Lord in person, in features and deportment, that it was difficult to distinguish them. 'The Holy Virgin herself,' says the legend, 'had she been capable of error, might have mistaken one for the other:' and this exact resemblance rendered necessary the kiss of the traitor Judas, in order to point out his victim to the soldiers.
This characteristic resemblance is attended to in the earliest and best representations of St. James, and by this be may usually be distinguished when he does not bear his club, which is often a thick stick or staff. With the exception of those Scripture scenes in which the apostles are present, I have met with few pictures in which St. James Minor is introduced: he does not appear to have been popular as a patron saint. The event of his martyrdom occurs very seldom, and is very literally rendered. The scene is a court of the Temple, with terraces and balconies; he is falling, or has fallen, to the ground; and one of the crowd lifts up the club to smite him. ......
