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I have not visited the National Portrait Gallery to date. But being a fan of the Bronte sisters, when I found out that the gallery were celebrating Charlotte Bronte’s birth. I knew that I had to book a visit. Celebrating Charlotte Bronte marks the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of one of the most celebrated authors of the 19th century. Charlotte Bronte’s novels, which include Jane Eyre (1847), Shirley (1849) and Villette (1853) continue to capture the imaginations of readers today. This display explores Bronte’s life and literary career through portraits and includes treasures on loan from the Bronte Parsonage Museum. I visited the museum a few years ago. And if you are fan of the Bronte family, it is a must see.

Central to the display will be the presentation of new research into the only surviving painted portraits of Charlotte with her two sisters, Emily and Anne, by their brother Branwell, in the Gallery’s Collection. This will explore the intriguing story of its discovery folded on top of a wardrobe, subsequent acquisition by the Gallery and its restoration. And you can see the marks on the painting where is was folded.

And I have recently brought these beautiful hardback reproductions of some of the Bronte family stories. I have been a fan for many years and as soon as I saw them, I had to get them straight away !