The Bronte Sisters - A True Likeness?

 

 

 

 Two 'alleged' portraits of Emily Bronte have recently been entered in auctions

News of a third ‘Bronte portrait’ in almost as many months is certain to be viewed with a touch of scepticism. But this find is different. It is not a painting, but a photograph, and it claims to depict not one, but all three Sisters. As no photos exist – apart from one of Charlotte - this would be the first true likeness of the Bronte Sisters. 

If this were proved right it would be a truly remarkable find.Despite distinct similarities to the Sisters, and many tantalising clues, the photo still lacks that final piece of hard evidence. Because of this it remains unauthenticated.
 

 

The research is presented here to give members of the Bronte Society and Bronte researchers the opportunity to judge whether this is a genuine photograph. 

They may be able to correct errors or help with information.Hopefully at some stage in the future it will be either authenticated or dismissed as an image of the Bronte Sisters.

 

 

Research set off to a bad start. The Bronte Museum had never seen the photo and with no photos of Emily or Anne to compare, they couldn’t authenticate it. Experts thought it unlikely to be a copy of an 1840s photo. It was a real conundrum. 
Gradually, over twelve months, the history behind this photograph has yielded some of its secrets. Most of the initial questions have been answered, but it has created dozens more and further research could carry on for years.This website brontesistersphoto has been created to list the findings to date. The history of the Bronte Sisters merges into the history of photography and the results are quite intriguing.  

On this day in 1840. 'Fair Ellen, Fair Ellen', 'Away fond Love' and 'Soul divine'.

juniperbooks/bronte-sisters-purple

In Feb 1840, about six months after his arrival, Ellen Nussey came to the Parsonage for a three weeks stay. Neither she, nor the Brontë girls had ever received a Valentine card; so it caused quite a stir on the morning of February 14th. when they each received one. 

Of course, the culprit was the scheming Weightman. In his usual mode of conduct, he had made a bold attempt to add a little sparkle to the girls' lives, and in a vain attempt to disguise his handiwork, had walked the ten miles to Bradford to post them. 

He had written verses in each of the Valentines; however, only the titles of three of them are known, but these give a general idea of their content:

 'Fair Ellen, Fair Ellen',

 'Away fond Love' 

 'Soul divine'

The girls were not to be fooled by the Bradford post-mark, and soon realised that the chirpy curate was the guilty party.

read more: kleurrijk Bronte sisters
Margo Payne/a-valentine-from-Currer

The Red House has a charming homely feel to it and is so authentic that visitors can easily imagine Charlotte Brontë mingling with the Taylor family whom she loved. She said it was a happy house, full of laughter.

The Spenborough Guardian publishes a letter from a reader who was outraged at the suggested closure of the Red House Museum:

In their “Vision and Strategic Objectives” outlined in the LDF Core Strategy, planners promised to retain the characteristics of Kirklees which make it attractive. This involved, among other issues, safeguarding the “distinctive and contrasting landscapes and legacy of historic buildings within and around Kirklees’ towns and villages.

So much for promises. The historic landscape from the Three Nuns to Hartshead and Roberttown has been earmarked for the biggest industrial development in West Yorkshire; totally ignoring its beauty and its close proximity to Robin Hood’s grave, the ruins of Kirklees Priory, the historic Armytage Estate, the Luddite heritage footpath, and Roe Head (now Hollybank school) the school to which all three Brontë sisters attended and at which Charlotte Brontë taught. And totally ignoring the seven presentations put forward last November to the extraordinary meeting of Kirklees Council.

And then we had the unbelievable threat to the only museum in the Spen Valley! The Red House Museum is a very precious and iconic building.

Built in 1660 by a typical entrepreneurial Spen clothier, William Taylor, it is now actually furnished in the style of the 1830’s when Joshua and Anne Taylor regularly enjoyed the company of their daughter Mary’s friend Charlotte Brontë. The house has a charming homely feel to it and is so authentic that visitors can easily imagine Charlotte Brontë mingling with the Taylor family whom she loved.

She said it was a happy house, full of laughter. And many visitors have felt this; almost 30,000 last year alone. They come to wander round the house and garden and the outbuildings which can absorb them for an afternoon. The cart-shed houses a unique history of the Spen Valley, painstakingly collected over many years. The barn has a wonderful exhibition dedicated to Charlotte Brontë’s book Shirley, based around the Luddite story.

Visitors come from schools, colleges and universities and from locally and far afield. It is well and truly on the Brontë trail for national and international enthusiasts. They all receive a warm welcome from the dedicated staff. What a tourist destination!

Most of all it is one of the most important buildings which make up the Spen Valley’s heritage. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to work out that this solution to saving money was a no-brainer.

Charlotte Brontë had another lifelong friend whom she met at Roe Head school – Ellen Nussey who lived near Birstall Smithies crossroads. Her home was the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. This is now swamped by a paint manufacturer’s. We cannot go on losing our heritage. And why was North Kirklees being targeted in this way. 

 
Grotere kaart weergeven