Club
Martyrdom attribute—paired with Simon’s saw.
Apostles
Saint Jude Thaddeus
Saint Jude
A club or an inscription can identify Jude Thaddeus. A shared feast explains why artists often pair him with Simon the Zealot.
Saint Jude ThaddeusJusepe de Ribera · c. 1609–1610
01 / 05
- Feast
- October 28
- Era
- 1st century · Persia (trad.)
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Iconographic Attributes
Iconographic field guide
Identifying features
Club or halberd; medallion with Christ’s face in devotional portraits; green cloak in modern piety. Flame of Pentecost in narrative scenes. A green cloak is common in modern devotional images.
- Clothing
- green cloak · apostolic robes
- Colours
- green · gold
- Symbols
- medallion · flame
Apostolic Robes
Garments of the Twelve or evangelists
Prophet's Beard
Venerable age of prophets and Baptist
Book
Gospels, doctrine, or wisdom
Visual Gallery
Works / 05Saint Jude ThaddeusJusepe de Ribera · c. 1609–1610
Plaque with Saint Jude
Saint Jude ThaddeusFrancisco de Zurbarán · 1633
Saint Jude ThaddeusSimone Martini · c. 1315
Saint Jude ThaddeusFranz Joseph Spiegler
Biography
Life & legacy
Jude 1Tradition identifies Thaddaeus in Mark’s list with Judas of James in Luke’s list of the Twelve. The Letter of Jude calls its author a brother of James; its attribution to this apostle is traditional. A club or a medallion with Christ’s face often identifies him in devotional images.
Epistle of Jude; attributed to the apostle in tradition; Luke 6:16; Mark 3:18.
Representation in Sacred Art
Narrative scenes to recognize
With Simon
Club martyrdom
Pentecost
Visual Recognition Guide
1.Club or halberd
Primary martyrdom attribute
2.Medallion with Christ’s face
Devotional portrait type
3.Green or royal cloak
Hopeful devotional color in modern art
4.Flame on head (Pentecost)
Apostolic company at Pentecost
5.Paired with Simon
Simon with saw, Jude with club
Quick checklist
Club or Christ medallion; green cloak; beside Simon.
Patronage and Devotion
hopeless causeshospitalslost causes
Distinguishing Similar Figures
Often confused with Saint Simon the Zealot: Constant pair—club vs saw
Often confused with Saint Bartholomew: Both carry striking implements; knife vs club
Notes from the Archive
- Modern devotion surged when confused name with Judas Iscariot was clarified
The Twelve Apostles course
Simon and Jude in separate portraits
Use names, inscriptions and tools to distinguish two saints often commemorated together.
Study this lesson 8 min · FreePractice
