24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Brontë Parsonage Museum Celebrates Good Year For Acquisitions
By Caroline Lewis
17/12/2007
Image: oval painting of a young Victorian woman
The portrait of Maria Taylor by Branwell Brontë. Courtesy the Brontë Parsonage Museum
A host of new acquisitions will go on show at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in West Yorkshire next year after a slew of successful auction bids for Bronte-related items.
Most recently, the museum has acquired a further portrait by the black sheep of the family, Branwell Brontë.
“There was an auction last month at Bonham’s in London,” explained Collections Manager at the museum, Ann Dinsdale, “and we acquired this portrait by Branwell of Maria Taylor, and a letter to her from Charlotte.”
“The Taylor Family lived nearby at Stanley Manor – they were quite an important family, quite influential. The father was instrumental in getting Patrick Bronte his position at the church, of which they were trustees.”
The oval portrait depicting the young lady with dark hair and porcelain skin will join another work by Branwell of her brother, Robert, which the museum previously acquired from the same source. Branwell had a studio in Bradford from which he attempted to make a living as a portrait painter before becoming an alcoholic and dying aged just 31 in 1848.
The letter from Charlotte Brontë to Maria is brief, changing arrangements for an outing.
The literary family lived in this parsonage. © Brontý Parsonage Museum
“It’s very interesting,” said Ann of the acquisitions, “because the Brontës were believed to be quite isolated at the Parsonage – the fact that this exists suggests there was more socialising going on between the two families than we thought.”
The painting is in good condition, while the letter needs some conservation work. They were acquired with generous funding from the V&A Purchase Fund and the Art Fund, plus a donation from a member of the Brontë Society.
The items will go on display in 2008 along with more acquisitions made in November – three envelopes containing locks of hair from Charlotte and Anne Bronte, and a ring that belonged to Charlotte. They were given to Ellen Nussey, a good friend of Charlotte’s.
“It’s been quite a good year for acquisitions,” commented Ann.
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Church Street, Haworth, Keighley, BD22 8DR, West Yorkshire, England
Open: October-March
Daily 1100-1700
April-September
Daily 1000-1730
Related Articles
Missing Brontë Letter Returns To The Brontë Museum In Haworth
News In Brief - Week Ending August 10 2008
Photographer Captures Visitors As The Brontës At Haworth Museum
Summer 2008 Holiday Ideas At UK Heritage Sites And Museums
My Life Dreams: Annelies Strba At Brontë Parsonage Museum
News In Brief - Week Ending July 13 2008
News In Brief - Week Ending June 15 2008
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
National Portrait Gallery Acquires Tudor Double Portrait
Sheffield Metal Master Wins Museum's Inaugural Design Award
DCMS Launches Consultation Into The Future Of World Heritage Sites
A Selection Of Festive Fairs - Fun Days and Exhibitions
Royal Society Announces Plans For 350th Anniversary
Art Website ArtisanCam Wins Coveted Children's BAFTA
Former Floorboards Of Founding Father Franklin Facilitate Funny Four
Mark Leckey Wins The 2008 Turner Prize And Scoops £25,000
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long-Standing Campaign For Cardiff City Museum
Culture Secretary Slaps Export Ban On George I Chandelier
Shakespeare's Globe Costumes Go On Show In Nottingham
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.