Did the REAL Charlotte Bronte Just Stand up?

The Bronte sisters by Branwell

This is a follow up to my post called ‘Will the Real Charlotte Bronte Please Stand up? ‘ This was written a while ago.  I tried to establish what Charlotte Bronte really looked like (and didn’t get anywhere lol!)  This subject still fascinates me though, so I was intrigued to read recently that James Gorin Von Grosny from Devon had bought a painting whom he believes are the Bronte sisters, painted by Edwin Lanseer.  The connection with Lanseer and the Bronte’s comes about through Ellen Nussey’s brother being a friend of his.

could this be a fresh portrait of the Bronte sisters?

 

Now, before you dismiss this claim as outlandish and unlikely, Mr Von Grosny puts up a formidable arguement  defending his claim and a lively debate is going  on the Bronte blog HERE.  It makes fascinating reading and  Mr Von Grosny addresses many issues regarding the work.  It is obvious that he has done a lot of research into the Bronte’s and has a genuine interest in them.

 

closer up

 

Even the way that the owner aquired this portrait is unusual in itself (read it HERE).  The whole story is intriguing and I am keeping a very open mind.  After all, we have so many portraits, each differing of Charlotte: so many conflicting descriptions of her appearence.  For example, even the samples of her hair differ.  I was at the Bronte Parsonage yesterday and saw three different examples, purported to be Charlottes hair.  There was a necklace made of fair hair, a mourning card with red blonde hair and a very dark lock of hair which is confusing. So why SHOULDN’T this portrait be of the Bronte’s? We don’t know for a fact it isn’t so far.

 

the knee sketch

 

 

The reverse of the painting contains a sketch of a knee.  Mr Von Grosny asserts that this ties in with a painting that Charlotte did of a shepherdess with the same scar below the knee.  It is thought to be a self portrait.  There is so much to the story of this painting – the suspense is killing me lol!  But just because I WANT it to be the Bronte’s, won’t make it so, but evidence will.  I can assure you that Mr Von Grosny is busy collecting it!  This portrait has a tale to tell I feel, and I want to hear it!

Constructive comments are invited

Please note:  this debate has been transferred onto Bookstains where hopefully it will continue and get more views

Altered art book: page 14 Helsinki not ducked nor flinched from

 

 

 

 

page-14-altered art book helsinki

‘Helsinki’

‘And they’d duck and flinch’

This page really stumped me!  Why had I chosen those words?  What did I know about Helsinki?  Why was I attracted by this word?  I had no alternative but to bite the bullet and follow the words I had chosen a couple of years ago.  When I chose the words originally, I thought of ships sinking, probably the Titanic.  I think the stamped star was going to be a ships wheel.  However, I looked at some Google images and painted a small water colour of HELSINKI!  I then decided to research some Finnish artists: I found a few.  

aalto-paimio-chair

 One of them, that some call the  Father of Modernism is Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto, b. 1898 – 1976, a Finnish architect whose work incuded glassware, painting, architecture and furniture.  He liked to experiment with materials: bending wood to form his famous Paimio cantilevered chair, originally designed for tuberculosis suffers.

 

 

 

 

_schjerfbeck

Another Finnish artist, Helene Schjerfbeck (b.1862 -1946), was known mostly for her self portraits, painting 36 of them during her lifetime.  This one is from 1939 the year war broke out.

 

 

 

 

tapio-wirkkala-designer-scuptor

Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala (b. 1915 -1985) worked as a graphic designer and sculpter and was also an industrialised designer.  His organic vase designs look like sculpture.  His hand blown vase with flared rim, called ‘Kanterelli’ was made for Littala who produced various models of these vases from 1947 – 1960.  These small bowls, silver plate over brass with incised design are by Wirkkala.

Well I still don’t know where Helsinki came from, BUT I didn’t duck it and I didn’t flinch, lol!

 

 

 

 

page-13-and-14-helsinki

The finished pages 13 and 14, which proved the most difficult to do.  I wonder what lies ahead……..

 Media used: ink, watercolour, paper, rubber stamp

 

 

 

 

 

London WILL belong to me!

Bacon Triptych

So excited to be going to London for a few days!  Not been for about 18 months so it will be good.  We’ll be seeing the Francis Bacon Exhibition at the Tate Britain so I will make some notes. 

 

 

 

 

Pope painting

 

Self Portrait

 

 

 

 

 

 Also going to Shepherds Bush Empire to see the Electric Six.  Most people have only heard ‘Gay Bar’ and ‘High Voltage’, but they are far far better than those hits.  Their music is evolving and constantly changing all the time.

'Flashy' album cover Electric Six