Reknowned for his ecstatic devotion to God, his gentle compassionate connection to animals and the natural world, and his simple, rustic lifestyle, the Italian Saint, Francis of Assisi, is one of the most beloved figures in all of Western Civilization. He is depected here in his natural environment, rooted in the ground beneath him, surrounded by sunflowers and gentle enough for a bird to securely perch on his outstretched hand.