An eye-witness's account of the No Coward Soul exhibition

BrontëBlog friend and collaborator Sarah Barrett was recently at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth visiting the newly-opened No Coward Soul exhibition. She has been so kind as to email us a few beautiful, snowy pictures and her impressions on the exhibition.

Emily Brontë exhibition 2008

Displayed in Charlotte’s room in the museum:

In the middle was a glass case that had items of Emily’s clothing, including a white short-sleeved chemise worn underneath the dress; a lovely purple plain woven silk dress that hangs from the dummy it's on like Emily herself, she was said to be lanky and this dress shows it! It’s long-sleeved, straight with a neckline like in Branwell’s portrait of her, quite wide with black lace for a small collar. Dress c.1835-40. The white chemise is shown in Robert Barnard’s book Emily Brontë.

There is also a straw bonnet with a red ribbon. It sticks out all round the face like horses blinkers so it would be hard for people to see the persons face

The display cases were split into subjects such as Childhood, A love of Animals, Poetry, and Death. In each case there were items to do with Emily, the childhood had some toys such as a small toy iron, a child’s plate, her Christening Mug, a small child’s bodice, dark coloured and silk possibly, Charlotte's History of the Year 1829 and a copy of Edinburgh’s Blackwood Magazine which they read as children.

The animal section had the paintings/drawings of the pet dogs, Keeper, Flossy and Grasper; there were many of her drawings of animals too.

In another display cabinet there was the following items:

Woman’s head with Tiara drawing
Mullioned window sketch
St Simeon sketch
Poem book reviews from newspaper cut outs, copy of Poems book
Autograph of the Bell sisters
Geometric figures done by Emily and a book on Geometry
Emily’s writing desk and all its contents
Study of a Fir Tree sketch

And in another: 2 diary papers written by Emily from 1834 and 1837, about the size of a credit card in real life. Also, two samplers by Emily on the wall; a Book of Common Prayer from Charlotte to Emily in 1842.

There was a pretty workbox from Aunt Branwell to Emily, Emily’s account book - dark leather with a gold clasp - very sweet and personal to see.

A cash box/tin box that is seen on the table in one of the diary papers; a poetry manuscript in its own case, from the Bonnell Collection.

And, sad to see were the Administration papers of Emily’s estate upon her death.

Here's a BIG thanks to Sarah for sharing this and bringing this wonderful, rare exhibtion closer to all of us.

Categories: Art-Exhibitions, Brontë Parsonage Museum, Brontëana, Emily Brontë