National Gallery London mounts first UK exhibition on Saint Francis of Assisi

The National Gallery in London has opened 'Saint Francis of Assisi', the first exhibition dedicated to a Catholic saint in the museum's history. Curated by Gabriele Finardi and Joost Joustra, the show brings together over forty works spanning from 13th-century panels to contemporary art, including pieces by Sassetta, Botticelli, Zurbarán, Murillo, El Greco, Caravaggio, Antony Gormley, Andrea Büttner, Stanley Spencer, Giuseppe Penone, and Arthur Boyd. A new commission by Richard Long, 'A Walk for Saint Francis', resulted from a week-long immersion in the countryside around Assisi. Among the relics on display are an ivory horn gifted by the Sultan of Egypt and a habit worn by Francis, preserved in Santa Croce in Florence. A section is dedicated to Saint Clare. The exhibition also features a Marvel comic, 'Francis Brother of the Universe' (1980) illustrated by John Buscema, and Franco Zeffirelli's 1972 film 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon'. Loans come from the Museo del Tesoro della Basilica di Assisi, including a 13th-century panel attributed to Giunta Pisano, the ivory horn, and a miscellaneous codex with an inventory of relics. The gala evening was funded by entrepreneur Bruno Cucinelli, a devotee of Saint Francis. The exhibition is free and runs until July 31, 2023.