Freedom and renewal: Historical imaginings of Francis of Assisi at the National Gallery in London (2023) and in Liliana Cavani’s film (1966)

Celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Francis of Assisi’s life began in 2023 ( Regula Bullata or Franciscan Rule) and in 2024 (stigmatization), with more events planned in 2025 ( Cantico delle Creature [ Canticle of Creatures ]) and 2026 (Francis’s death). In 2023, the National Gallery in London contributed to these celebrations by hosting the exhibition Saint Francis of Assisi , a collection of European art produced between 1228 and 2012 co-curated by National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi and Ahmanson Research Associate Curator in Art and Religion Dr Joost Joustra. 2026 will commemorate both the eighth centenary of Francis’s death and the 60th anniversary of Liliana Cavani’s 1966 film Francesco di Assisi ( Francis of Assisi ). The purpose of this article is, first, to offer a historical contextualization of Francis of Assisi as a modern character by reviewing the monographic exhibition at the National Gallery; and, second, to re-examine the poetic force of freedom and renewal in Francis’s life through a discussion of Liliana Cavani’s film.