Born in 1030, Bruno was born into the prominent Hartenfaust family of Cologne. Little is known of his early years, except that he studied theology in the Cathedral school at Rheims before returning to Cologne, where he was ordained a priest.
 
In 1056, he retuned to Rheims as professor of theology, became head of the school the following year, and remained there until 1074, when he was appointed chancellor of Rheims by its archbishop. Bruno's time as chancellor was turbulent due to the uproar in Rheims over the behavior of its new bishop, Manasses de Gournai. Suspended of his duties by the local council, the bishop appealed to the pope and became violent toward his opposition. Around this time, Bruno left Rheims until the matter was resolved. Finally in 1080, the pope deposed the archbishop, and the clergy and laity called for Bruno to be appointed as the next archbishop, but he had already decided to pursue an eremitical life. 
 
Inspired by a dream to seek out bishop Hugh of Grenoble for guidence, Bruno settled in the desolate, mountainous, alpine area called La Grande Chartreuse in 1084. He and a small group of scholars, desiring to become monks, built an oratory and individual cells and began roughly following the Rule of Saint Benedict. These men were the beginnings of the Carthusian Order. They lived a life of poverty, manual work, prayer, and transcribing manuscripts, though as yet they had no written rule. 
 
In 1090, Bruno traveled to Rome, against his wishes, to aid Pope Urban II (whom he had taught at Rheims) as Papal Adviser in the reformation of the clergy. Growing weary of the agitated life imposed upon him at the papal court, Bruno begged, and after much trouble obtained, the pope's permission to return again to his solitary life. 
 
Pope Urban stipulated however that Bruno was to remain in Italy to help the Pope periodically, rather than returning to his monastery in France. Bruno and some companions consequently settled in the wilderness of Calabria where they built a hermitage named Sainte-Marie-de-la-Tour. There Bruno lived until death on October 6. He was never formally canonized because of the Carthusians' aversion to public honors but Pope Leo X granted the Carthusians permission to celebrate his feast in 1514, and his name was placed on the Roman calendar in 1623.
 
 
This print is part of the "Happy Saint" collection by Anna Morelli.
 
The image is professionally printed, hand-signed by the artist, and comes enclosed in a plastic sleeve to ensure protection