BY THE TIME ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI died in 1226 he was a dominant and charismatic spiritual figure, celebrated for his stigmata, his relationship with animals and for founding the Franciscan order which had grown from 12 original adherents to more than 30,000 friars in a mere 15 years. Two years after his death aged 44, he was canonised.
Francis was also an exceptionally attractive figure to artists and thousands of illustrations of his life and deeds soon began to appear. This tradition, with scenes of his dramatic stigmatisation and his preaching to the birds as
