He was called the Poor Man of the Desert by St Bonaventure, St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of ecology and is best known for his strict vow of poverty and simple interpretation of the gospel. This painting highlights his joy in poverty by displaying a beautiful tree in the desert. The tree is shaped in the form of a “T” as the Tau cross was of great importance to St Francis. The red flowers on the branches symbolize the stigmata he wore at the end of his life.
