
This image is of a painting by John Emms, a 19th century English painter, who portrayed these two St. Bernards with brandy barrels around their necks—a detail that may have more basis in legend than historical fact. But what is for certain is that since the early 18th century, monks living at the St. Bernard de Menthon hospice and monastery near a 2400-meter mountain pass between Italy and Switzerland have been keeping and breeding these types of dogs to assist them on dangerous rescue missions.
