Il Ritorno di Francesco ("The Return of Francis") Statue, Assisi

In 2005, Italian artist Norberto Proietti created a modern equestrian statue of Saint Francis, which now stands outside the basilica bearing his name. A bronze plaque bears a quotation from the Legend of the Three Companions, describing a crucial moment in the saint’s life:
“Lord, what do you want me to do?”
“Go back to your city, and you will be told what you must do.”
At daybreak, Francis, renewed in spirit, sought only to align himself with the will of God.

Francis experienced many dreams and visions throughout his life. One such vision inspired him to become a knight and join the papal army. Acting on this ambition, he acquired armour and a horse and set out for Rome. However, during a stop in Spoleto, he had another dream in which God questioned his intentions and urged him to serve God rather than pursue a military career.

The young Francis, still filled with idealistic ambitions, may well have feared returning to Assisi, where he risked facing his family’s scorn for abandoning his knightly aspirations and withdrawing from the dangers of battle. The statue portrays the future saint in a moment of humility before he embraced religious life. He slouches in the saddle, with his head and shoulders bowed, while his despondency is reflected in the similarly downcast posture of his horse.