Undoubtedly, as has been suggested, either in the case of euhemerized
gods or otherwise, some saints may have had specialized associations
from quite early, but I would think that the profliferation of lay
confraternities and guild-like organizations in the later middle ages
was instrumental in the popularization of patron saints. St Luke,
for example, had long been known as an artist, since he was credited
with painting the Hodegetria icon of the Virgin and Child in
Constantinople from life, but it is only with the rise of painters'
guilds dedicated to St Luke from the late 14th century onwards that
it seems appropriate to talk of him as the patron saint of painters.
Another factor that may be relevant is that, although there are
prominent exceptions, such as St Peter with his keys, the provision
of images of saints with characteristic attributes only becomes
relatively universal from the late 12th century.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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