(Francisia), a celebrated Bolognese painter, born in 1450. He was first a goldsmith or jeweller, afterwards a graver of coins and medals; but applying at last to painting, obtained great reputation by his works, particularly by a piece of St Sebastian, whom he had drawn bound to a tree with his hands tied over his head. He pined himself into a consumption, by despairing to equal Raphael; and died in 1518.

FRANCIS I., king of France, the rival of the emperor Charles V., and the reformer of learning and politeness in France. See (History of) FRANCE.

Francis of Assisi (St.), founder of the Franciscan friars, was born at Assisi in Italy in 1181. One of the most extraordinary things told of St. Francis of Assisi is, that Jesus Christ imprinted on him the marks of his five wounds; and there is a festival in memory of those holy prints, and an office for it. His preaching to the fishes to make them Christians, and his conversion of millions of them, is famous; as is his mercy to worms and lice. The order he founded, and which bears his name, was approved by Innocent III. in 1215, and confirmed by Honorius III. in 1223. It has since branched into several others, as Minims, Ricolites, Capuchins, &c. called in Roman-Catholic countries, Fratres Minoris.