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Branwell Brontë: The Scandalous Sibling

The National Portrait Gallery in London houses the iconic and sole group portrait of the renowned Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Painted during their teenage years around 1834, the artwork, displayed prominently, captures the sisters positioned around a small table with a book. Notably, the third sister is separated from the first two by a pillar. But what is “behind” that pillar?–Branwell, the lone male sibling, who also happened to be the artist.

However, through tests conducted in 2015, it was revealed that he painted himself out, replacing his own image with the pillar. This alteration symbolically mirrors Branwell’s life as the often overshadowed and unconventional member of the Brontë family, living in the shadows of his more accomplished and well-known sisters.

The Brontë sisters, celebrated globally for their literary contributions such have achieved widespread recognition. While, Branwell, their lesser-known sibling, remains shrouded in relative obscurity. Though he aspired to be a accomplished artist, his ambitions remained unfulfilled, and he tragically succumbed to addiction to alcohol, laudanum, and opium at the age of 31.

Interestingly enough, there are conspiracy theories which claim Branwell actually wrote his sisters’ books for them. Some speculated about Branwell’s involvement in the sisters’ work which believes he wrote Wuthering Heights, if not more of the Brontë books.

Now the theory is widely regarded as nonsense. One primary argument against this notion revolves around Branwell’s perceived lack of talent and ambition. At the age of 21, he established himself in an artist’s studio, where he forged connections within the artistic community. However, his time spent in pubs outweighed his dedication to his easel, resulting in limited financial success.

Subsequently, he embarked on a series of unsuccessful ventures, including a one-year stint as a private tutor, followed by a brief and unsuccessful tenure as a railway clerk, but was dismissed after being unable to explain discrepancies in the books.

Notably, his reputation as the black sheep of the family was solidified when he was scandalously dismissed from his position as a tutor at Thorp Green, near York, England, a role secured for him by his sister Emily, due to engaging in an illicit affair with the lady of the house.

These events, coupled with Branwell’s subsequent inability to realize his creative and professional aspirations or maintain steady employment during the final three years of his life, contributed to his notorious reputation as the Brontës’ troubled figure.

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