(ANSA) - LONDON, MAY 05 - 'Saint Francis of Assisi' opens at the National Gallery in London, the first major art exhibition on St. Francis that in Great Britain brings together the works of famous artists, from the 13th century to today, inspired by life and from the works of the Italian religious.
After the gala evening, with a preview visit, offered by Brunello Cucinelli, the entrepreneur-philanthropist closely linked to the figure of the saint sponsor of the exhibition, visitors can admire, starting tomorrow and until 30 July, over 40 works from public and private European and American.
They range from early medieval panels and relics and manuscripts to modern films, contemporary artworks, photographs and even a Marvel comic, demonstrating how the Saint's fascination has transcended generations, continents and religious traditions.
Paintings by Sassetta, Botticelli and Zurbarán were brought together for the occasion, as well as works (canvases, drawings, photographs) by Caravaggio, Josefa deÓbidos, Stanley Spencer, Antony Gormley, Giuseppe Penone, Andrea Buttner and Richard Long.
The exhibition was curated by Joost Joustra and by the director of the National Gallery himself, Gabriele Finaldi, according to whom the figure of Saint Francis is of enormous importance for our age, "thanks to his spiritual radicalism, his commitment to the poor as well as his love for nature and animals", definable as "embryonic environmentalism".
The exhibition opens to the public on a very special day for the United Kingdom, the coronation of King Charles III scheduled for tomorrow at Westminster Abbey.
Among other things, the sovereign 'ecologist' and Cucinelli have collaborated on a project for environmental sustainability in the Himalayas.
(HANDLE).