Icing on the cake

The Telegraph & Argus publishes more information about the recent acquisitions of the Brontë Parsonage Museum: the portrait of Maria Taylor by Branwell Brontë plus a letter from Charlotte to Maria and a ring which belonged to Charlotte Brontë and locks of hair from Charlotte and Anne Brontë:

A portrait painted by Branwell Bronte when he had a studio in Fountain Street, Bradford, is to be hung at a special exhibition at the Bronte shrine in Haworth.
The painting of Maria Taylor of Manor House, Stanbury - a friend of his sister Charlotte - was bought at a Bonham's auction for £6,600.
It will join another special item, a letter written by Charlotte to Maria, which the Bronte Society acquired at the same auction for £5,280.
And the "icing on the cake" said Bronte Parsonage Museum librarian Ann Dinsdale, was a successful bid at a small auction in Colchester only days after the big Bonham's sale, for three other Bronte mementoes - locks of hair from Charlotte and her sister Anne and a dress ring which belonged to Charlotte.
"It is all very exciting. We were very pleased to get the portrait and the letter, but the locks of hair and the ring was real icing on the cake," said Mrs Dinsdale.
The new items will go on display at a special acquisitions exhibition from Friday, February 1.
The portrait of Maria will be hung alongside a painting of her brother Robert, also by Branwell.
"The Taylors lived in Manor House at Stanbury only a short distance away and Mr Taylor was instrumental in getting the Reverend Patrick Bronte a living at Haworth," said Mrs Dinsdale. "The letter tells Maria that Charlotte can't visit her because she is to holiday in Scarborough."
Branwell attempted to make a living as a portrait painter and had a studio in Bradford in 1839. But he came to rely on alcohol and opium and died, aged 31, in September 1848.
The two locks of hair have been preserved in their original black-edged mourning envelopes and were probably removed at the deaths of the two women. Charlotte died in pregnancy, aged 39, in March 1855. Anne died aged 29, in May 1849, suffering from consumption.
The locks of hair were collected by Ellen Nussey, Charlotte's best friend, who was with her in Scarborough when Anne died. (Clive White)

Pictures Right: Source. Museum library information officer Sarah Laycock with the painting by Branwell Brontë.
Left: Source. Librarian Ann Dinsdale with the letter, ring and locks of hair from Charlotte and Anne Brontë

Categories: Brontë Parsonage Museum, Brontëana, In the News