‘Picture-perfect’ Patrick Brontë at the Parsonage

A press release from the Brontë Parsonage Museum:

‘Picture-perfect’ Patrick Brontë caught on camera and donated to the Brontë Parsonge Museum

A rare photograph of the proud father of the most famous literary family in the world has recently been bought at auction in Surrey and donated to The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

The faded sepia image of this remarkable old man taken before his death in 1861 is one of the very few photographs known to exist of Patrick Brontë. Still in its original oval gilt frame, the photograph was discovered among papers in an old film box. The photograph was once part of a collection of items sold off at auction in 1898 originally belonging to the Brown family- Martha being one of the Brontë servants. Over 110 years later, the photograph returned to the auction room and was bought by a first time auction bidder who donated it to the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Very few original images of the Brontë family exist so we are delighted that this special and rare find can now be displayed for thousands of our visitors to see from Wednesday 2nd September 2009 until January 1st 2010.

EDIT: The Telegraph & Argus publishes this press release adding a couple of pictures: Picture 1, Picture 2.

Categories: Art-Exhibitions, Brontë Parsonage Museum