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The photo was found in France and purchased to help illustrate a book on early
It wasn't thought to be of any great interest until it was discovered that
there were no photos of the Bronte Sisters and the present research began.
A photo on glass,1. it dates
from the 1850s, and written on the back in French is “Les Sœurs Brontë.” Although Emily and Anne
died in the 1840s, copies were made of their other portraits in the 1850s, one by a photographer
The website explores whether this is just a staged portrayal of the Bronte
Sisters, or a copy of an earlier, genuine photograph.
You can compare these ladies with images and descriptions of the Bronte Sisters
and there's research on the fashions, early photography and a possible location.
LEFT: Charlotte Bronte (1816–55)
CENTRE: Emily Bronte (1818–48)
RIGHT: Anne Bronte (1820–49)
1. This is a photo on glass and the correct English term is
'wet-plate collodion positive' but the American term 'ambrotype' is also widely used both sides of
the Atlantic. So as not to confuse people, we refer to it as a 'photo on glass' throughout this