Francis (Franciscus) was born in Assisi in 1181 and died in 1226. He became of the most important medieval saints. He was first named John, but later was called Francis. The name francis was not a common name in these days, probably derived from ferocitas or fierceness of soul, the spiritedness and impetuosity of the mind. Francis was a merchants son, but he put away the world’s vanities. Many were to follow him. He had a vision in which he was imprinted the signs of the crucifixion, so that he himself seemed to have been crucified. His hands, feet and side were marked with the stigmata of the crucifixion. He was the founder of the Order of Francis, committed to contemplation and poverty. His female admirer Clara was about to found a similar order for women, the Clarissen. The exhibition in the Diocesian museum Paderborn exhibits works of art from the Sacro Convento in Assisi, the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Rome, paintings, illuminated books, works of gold. silver, fine arts, sculpture and other means of visualization by artists, covering different styles and periods of art, from Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-classic periods.The exhibition is compromised of fourteen thematised unites. Approximately 200 exhibits from national and international museums and libraries are on display, including masterpieces from renaissance and baroque masters.
