Search the Collection

Charlotte Brontë

(1816-1855), Novelist

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 4 portraits
One of the Brontë sisters; a novelist whose books, including Jane Eyre, and Villette, extended the emotional range of English fiction. Acutely shy in person, Brontë fearlessly questioned social conventions in her novels, drawing on her experience as a teacher and governess. The daughter of an Anglican clergyman, she married her father's curate, the Rev. A.B. Nicholls, in 1854, but still faced criticism for the seemingly immoral qualities of her strong female characters. In writing her biography, Elizabeth Gaskell aimed to restore Brontë's respectability, and succeeded in establishing her reputation as a tragic, but courageous figure who demonstrated the intellectual ability of women.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

The Brontë Sisters (Anne Brontë; Emily Brontë; Charlotte Brontë), by Patrick Branwell Brontë - NPG 1725

The Brontë Sisters (Anne Brontë; Emily Brontë; Charlotte Brontë)

by Patrick Branwell Brontë
oil on canvas, circa 1834
On display in Room 24 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 1725

Charlotte Brontë, by George Richmond - NPG 1452

Charlotte Brontë

by George Richmond
chalk, 1850
NPG 1452

Unknown woman, formerly known as Charlotte Brontë, by Unknown artist - NPG 1444

Unknown woman, formerly known as Charlotte Brontë

by Unknown artist
watercolour, 1850
NPG 1444

Charlotte Brontë, by Walker & Boutall, after George Richmond - NPG D32171

Charlotte Brontë

by Walker & Boutall, after George Richmond
collotype, 1886 or after (1850)
NPG D32171

Related People

Category

Groups

Place

Links

Media

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

What can you tell us?close

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citationclose

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Your Emailclose

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.