Monastic Mummies

Click on each stereoview for a close up.

CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY

This is a French stereoview by J. Andrieu, circa 1860's, depictiing, "Chartreuse a Saint-Martino a Naples".  I believe this to depict a Carthusian monastery near Naples.  I have been unable to further identify this building and have no idea if it is still extant.  At any rate it  certainly appears desolate enough to be haunted.  All those snaky vines in the foreground are probably just how a vinyard looks in winter, but they make me think of Sleeping Beauty's overgrown castle.  It's easy to imagine there might be hidden vaults below this monastery such as those depicted below.

CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS IN ROME

This is an 1897 Underwood & Underwood stereoview depicting "Chamber in the Capuchin Catacombs in Rome, Italy, showing sacred earth from Palestine."  I must admit the sacred earth is not the first thing I notice when I look at this view.  This one and the next one beautifully illustrate what I think of as "The Martha Stewart Approach to Human Remains Management."  In the close up you'll see a very "Marthaesque" hanging lamp fashioned of femurs and coccyges and other assorted bones.

CATACOMBS IN BRUSSELS BELGIUM

This is a Whiting View Company stereoview, circa 1900, depicting "In the Catacombs, Brussels, Belgium".  Here we see three of the good brothers nestled in a grotto of pelvic bones.  I wonder what these guys had to do to rate being left in one piece?

CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS-SICILY

This is a C. L.Wasson, International View Company, stereoview, copyright 1899, entitled, "Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Sicily."  This view shows a more "panoramic" view of the catacombs and impresses me with the variety of receptacles that are preserved here.  Notice the row of prayerful monks along the left side of the vault.

THREE PRESERVED MONKS-SICILY

This is a French stereoview, circa 1860, entitled (in French on the back) "Syracuse, Sicily, Dead Preserved at the Capuchin Convent."  Here we see three garlanded brothers in what appear to be carved marble niches with a few (empty?) coffins piled in front of them.

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