A photograph of the father of the Brontë sisters, lost to the literary and art world since it was auctioned in 1898, has been discovered at a provincial antiques fair and will be sold by Surrey fine art auctioneer Ewbank Clarke Gammon Wellers. The sale is on June 24-25.
The faded sepia photograph of the Rev Patrick Brontë. still in its original oval gilt frame, was uncovered among papers in an old Ilford film box. With it was a dog-eared copy of the 1898 auction catalogue for the dispersal of “The Museum of Brontë Relics” conducted in The Strand by Sotheby Wilkinson and Hodge. The portrait photograph had previously been on display along with other Brontë mementoes at the Temperance tearooms in Haworth, in Yorkshire where the family lived.
A foreword to the 1898 sale catalogue reads: “A large proportion of these relics was given by members of the Brontë family at various times to William Brown (father of Mr Robinson Brown), Sexton at Haworth Church during 20 years of the Rev P Brontë’s incumbency, and to his niece Martha Brown, who for many years lived in the Brontë family. Those relics which were not inherited from these relatives by Mr Robinson Brown, he acquired from Mr A Gledhill, Keithley; Miss Nussey; Mr W Scruton, Bradford and others; a few were purchased by him in the locality.”
A further note reads that the collection of 107 lots was to be offered for sale in one lot with a reserve price. It adds: “If this sum be not realised, it will then be sold in detail as catalogued”. The latter course was taken.
It is not known how much was raised by the sale of the photograph, which was Lot 105 in the catalogue, but the sale was not well received. In her book “Strange World of the Brontës” (Sigma Leisure 2001) author Marie Campbell states that when Robinson Brown’s Museum of Brontë Relics closed, it had been hoped to sell the treasures at the Chicago Exhibition “… but it was not to be. A further attempt to auction 107 lots was made on Saturday 2 July 1898 at Sotheby’s. Even this failed to attract many serious bidders. Amongst the effects that didn’t receive a bid at all were J.H. Thompson’s oil portrait of Charlotte [Brontë] and her doll’s cradle. The Brontë Society spent just under £20 on the day, purchasing several Brontë mementoes. An unfinished counterpane worked by all three sisters was knocked down for £1.2s (£1.10), a signed watercolour of Anne’s pet dog Flossy for £12, a lock Charlotte’s of hair belonging to Martha Brown and taken after her [Charlotte’s] death cost £1.14s (£1.70), while yet another fetched double that amount”.
An inscription on the reverse of the portrait, which was presumably the original museum description, reads: “Rev P Brontë; Various relics including an oval photograph framed and glazed, a small china blue and white plate often used by him and a sword stick. The photograph was owned by Martha Brown and was bought from the Ratcliffes from whom came also the plate. The swordstick is accompanied by a framed certificate from C Stansfield who sold it to Mr Dixon. It was given by Mr Brontë to John Hudson the elder of Haworth who repaired Mr Brontë’s boots for many years and was bought by Stansfield from John Hudson the Younger his son”.
The copy of the1898 auction catalogue is being offered with the photograph, as is a copy of “Emily Jane Brontë and the authorship of Wuthering Heights” by Alice Law a book published by the Old Parsonage Press. The lot is estimated at £400-600.
Patrick Brontë (1777-1861) was born in Emdale, Drumballyroney, County Down, the eldest of 10 children. His father was an agricultural labourer and the boy was originally apprenticed to a blacksmith and also later to a draper and a weaver. However, largely self-taught, he became a teacher and subsequently gained a place to study theology at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1806.
It is interesting to note that it was around this time that Patrick changed his surname from the Irish Brunty and various theories have been given for the reason. It has been suggested he simply wanted to hide his humble origins, while others think his classical training persuaded him to adopt the name with a dieresis – the two dots over the “e” – to highlight the second syllable as in the Greek. In Greek mythology, brontes means thunder and was the name of one of the three Cyclops .
He was ordained into the Church of England in 1807 and married Maria Branwell at Guiseley Church in 1812. His famous daughters Maria was born in 1814, Elizabeth in 1815 and Charlotte in 1816, Emily in 1818 and Anne in 1820, He also had a son Patrick Branwell, born in 1817. In 1820, Patrick was appointed perpetual curate of Haworth. He died there in 1861 at the age of 84, having outlived his wife and all six children.
Viewing for the Summer sale of fine art and antiques at Ewbank Clarke Gammon Wellers is on Saturday June 20 from 10am to 2pm; Monday June 22 from 10am to 5pm and Tuesday June 23 from 10am to 8pm. There will also be viewing on each sale day from 9.30-10am.
The sale catalogue with all lots illustrated will also be available for viewing on the Internet at www.ewbankauctions.co.uk a week prior to the sale.
Ewbank Clarke Gammon Wellers
Burnt Common Auction Rooms
London Road
Send
Woking
Surrey
GU23 7LN.
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 223 101
Fax: +44 (0) 1483 222 171
