Canons of the Great Saint Bernard

A carte-de-visite showing the monks who ran the hospice in the Grand Saint Bernard Pass between Switzerland and Italy.

A printed caption in the lower margin reads: ‘Views of Switzerland, Savoy & Italy by W. England.’ Below this, printed on a separate piece of paper and pasted across the lower margin, is the title of this specific photograph in the series: ‘244. Les Frères du Grand St. Bernard et l’Hospice. Suisse.’

Located in the western Alps, the Grand St Bernard Pass is the third highest road pass in Switzerland. It connects Martigny in the Swiss canton of Valais with the Aosta Valley in Italy.

The buildings seen in the background of this photograph are still there today. Originally founded in 1049 by Saint Bernard of Menthon, for nearly a millennium they've served as a hospice for travellers. The hospice and the pass were named after Saint Bernard in the 16th century.

The Congregation of Canons of the Great Saint Bernard, to give the monks their full title, lease the larger building on the right to a private enterprise which runs it as a hotel. Nowadays the monastery itself only houses a few monks on a permanent basis, but it also serves as a retreat for other monks from elsewhere.

The monastery is perhaps best known for its dogs, the famous St Bernards, usually depicted with a small barrel of brandy hanging from their neck.

Photographed by William England.

England is best known for his stereographic views. This particular photograph comes from a series of stereo views of Germany, Switzerland and Italy that England published under the auspices of the Alpine Club. According to the information printed on the back of the mount, there were 400 images in the series. Furthermore, ’These views have been pronounced by the press the finest ever produced’ and they retailed for 1/6 [one shilling and sixpence].