The Carthusian monastic order was founded by Saint Bruno in 1086.
Saint Bruno (about 1032 - 1101) was born in Cologne and studied and taught theology at Rheims in France. He then moved to Chartreuse (Charter House) near Grenoble where he established a community; the life of the members was based around hard work, prayer and austerity. These aspects of monastic life became the rule of the order.
The Carthusians who wore a white habit, were noted for their severity but their houses outside great cities attracted great benefactions and were popular as the burial places of princes. The Certosa (Charter House) of Pavia is depicted in Bergognone's 'The Virgin and Child' in the Collection and Bergognone's and Perugino's altarpieces now in the National Gallery ('The Virgin and Child with Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Catherine of Siena' and 'Three Panels from a Certosa Altarpiece') were painted for this building where the rulers of Milan are buried.
