Among a certain circle of art historians, including the BBC broadcaster Andrew Graham Dixon, is a belief that the Renaissance was ignited by a single spark in the form of one man: Saint Francis of Assisi. Born into wealth in Umbria around 1181, Francis abandoned a lavish lifestyle for one of poverty and preaching after experiencing a vision in a chapel outside of Assisi. By some estimations, a staggering 20,000 images of Francis were made in the century following his death, in 1226, and canonization just two years later. This new show at The National Gallery brings together some 40 rousing depictions of Francis that range from 13th-century gold-ground panel paintings, perhaps made by someone who had actually seen him deliver a sermon, to Caravaggio’s lyrical Baroque portrait of Francis in ecstasy after receiving the stigmata. There are also works by contemporary artists that shine a light on our enduring fascination with Francis. —Harry Seymour