What did Charlotte Bronte Look Like? The Famous Author of Jane Eyre as a Modern Day Woman

[@vintagebrew1057]

Charlotte considered herself to be plain but she recieved at least three proposals of marriage. One gentleman found her beguiling. The gentleman who married her was totally smitten with her. Quite a few mentioned her eyes and the way she looked at you. Charlotte had an inner fire and quiet strength just like Jane Eyre. I believe the photograph to be genuine.

[@autumn5852]

Didn’t she mean play in looks? I hope the marriage proposals weren’t based on her looks 😢 that would be an insult

[@annstillwell730]

I don't think the hairstyles at the time helped her cause much. She was not ugly just more on the ordinary side. Her sister Ann was considered the beauty of the family but she wasn't even considered pretty at the time either.

[@perrydowd9285]

Her penetrating eyes are so often mentioned in contemporary descriptions of Charlotte. As for the photograph: It's only a matter of time and we'll be proven right. That's the Bronte Sisters. Heads up to Terry from Very Nearly Interesting (on a KZbin channel near you).

[@pennybourke1111]

You did her justice she looks lovely! She's also my 6th cousin so I'm happy with what you have done here. Everything was so drab back then you brought some nice colours to the table :)

[@maggiemagdalene111]

Attractive or not, the fact that she wrote Jane Eyre makes her beautiful to me.

[@user-qh8nh7oe6d]

@maggie. You have said it just right, thank you.

[@ForestRogers]

A quote from the Gaskell biography of Charlotte suggests to me that she would not appreciate being rendered over-pretty or generically cute to modern taste: “She once told her sisters that they were wrong--even morally wrong--in making their heroines beautiful as a matter of course. They replied that it was impossible to make a heroine interesting on any other terms. Her answer was, 'I will prove to you that you are wrong; I will show you a heroine as plain and as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours.' Hence 'Jane Eyre,' said she in telling the anecdote: 'but she is not myself, any further than that.' “

[@av1421]

That is very feministic of her....ahead of her times!!

[@andiethewriter]

Anne was actually the first to create an ordinary-looking heroine , Agnes Grey.

[@voyaristika5673]

It matches very well and I wasn't expecting it to be that perfect. It's a privilege to see your work, and listen to the histories. Thank you!

[@mischamartinstudios]

Three cheers for both the artist and the comment section. I'm an avid reader, but I learned more about Charlotte in 5 minutes than in a whole class!

[@scottlemay3386]

I love how you add tidbits of history as well as great art. Chefs kiss

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you ❤️

[@floridamezzo8734]

Love this! Can you feature Emily Bronte as well? How about Emily Dickinson? Jane Austen?

[@authorjeanettelewis8160]

My favorite author! She was well ahead of her time with her portrayals of women. I love your version, she looks so intelligent and inquisitive.

[@ellie.l6585]

This is really beautiful and truly brings her to life. I've visited a number of times the Bronte Parsonage where the family used to live in the quaint village in Yorkshire. I loved walking up the stairs knowing how the sisters would have run up and down there full of ideas. Incredible family.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

So cool! I’ll have to get there someday.

[@gsplady50]

A wonderful visit to the house. One gets a better sense of her life and what she saw as she looked out the windows.

[@hotoneinspai]

The Village is Howarth in Yorkshire. Their home was indeed a parsonage at the top of the High-street & overlooking the cemetery... The Pretty, quaint Village of today is a far cry from the hard and bleak village of those days. There lives were hard...even for the Middle classes which they would have been considered. Its interesting you didn't mention the Painting of all three sisters together, its copy is well displayed and appears honest.

[@ellie.l6585]

@@hotoneinspai yes, and the old apothecary where Branwell is thought to have bought his opium still looks pretty much as it would back then - at least it did the last time I was there. We also stayed at The Black Bull where he supposedly spent many nights. Lovely old cobbled streets. My dog is named Bronte too ☺.

[@user-qh8nh7oe6d]

@ellie. Its the clock on the stairs. Find it incredibly moving. It's not just Patrick winding it everyday, it's all that it's seen and heard. It sort of stands sentinel for all the Brontes.

[@kiwibeca]

There were two other Bronte sisters above Charlotte; Maria and Elizabeth. Sadly, they both died in childhood. One of Charlotte Bronet's characters, Helen Burns, from Jane Eyre, is said to be based on one of her older sisters. (Maria, I think.)

[@initiatinreallife]

I think you did an excellent job! Though i would love to see a version without makeup. :)

[@cazm8019]

Yes, that's what I thought...with a paler skin, no red lips etc...would make a huge difference

[@ms_prescott_regrets]

I am seriously rereading Jane Eyre right now. Love your work 💕

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you!

[@gyerliniclarke2026]

THANK YOU SO FOR THIS was thinking about what the Brontës looked like just today- then I come across this without looking yaye! Bless u! It would be so awesome to see Emily and Anne

[@devonbradley4372]

Very interesting commentary. In the drawing that Bramwell drew, it looked as if Charlotte had a very heavy jaw! It is amazing that there were several pictures of her, each describing her a little differently. it would have made it perplexing to know just exactly what she looked like but your drawing in the end was enchanting! Thanks!

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you! It’s so interesting to study these - Jane Austen had something similar where her sister drew kind of a medium-quality sketch of her that is the best likeness we have. Also interesting to see how the artists of the time would idealize them!

[@devonbradley4372]

@@RoyaltyNowStudios Yes, thank you for mentioning that interesting point! I didn't know that artists of the time were in the habit of 'idealising' their 'subjects'. I found that fascinating! Grateful for your response.

[@JJBushfan]

Any chance of doing Emily from the Branwell portrait of the three sisters? Anybody who could write the line 'A little and a lone green lane' must be worth a little effort. She seems to have been a most enigmatic and fascinating woman.

[@glbale]

Not the most well-known Emily poem, but those lines have been in my head for decades.

[@891Henry]

@@glbale I enjoy her words, especially knowing that she was so shy and quiet that she would go entire evenings in company, without saying a single word. She saved her words for the written page.

[@Templeborough]

I agree. Although in prose, ths last couple of sentences of Wuthering Heights are, in my view, the most 'poetic' in the English language.

[@sergiolobato1798]

I was a bit skeptical of the results at the beginning but was surprised at the end and was blown away! So cool!

[@susangavaghan]

Fascinating stuff. She looks so lovely.

[@firecatfly]

She was beautiful in my mind's imagery and your renditition of her is spot on.

[@mikerainham]

She seemed to have striking eyes, a sharp and witty persona if we are to judge her by the excellent conversational scenes in her novels. She was probably considered pretty rather than beautiful but with a great personality she would have been a great person to know.

[@pbtraveler694]

Charlotte was described as having a rather "overhanging" forehead. And she was described as having an irregular-shaped mouth, but beautiful, arresting eyes. Charlotte's father thought Richmond's portrait was 'very like' but a bit older-looking than she actually was.

[@markhodgson2348]

Absolutely stunning 😍

[@poetryjones7946]

yayyyyy!!!!!!! The Brontes!!!! 👍🏼❤️ Can you do a moving version without modern makeup? In comparison with Branwell’s portrait this looks pretty dead-on!

[@KH-gk8mf]

One of my favorite authors come to life! I love how you made her smile and blink! It would be nice to see an 1830's version (hair up, no makeup, traditional dress), vs. the 1970s hair and denim shirt (my hair looked almost exactly like that in 1975, and I think I had a light blue denim shirt like that as well) and 2000s makeup (dark red lipstick). But great work!

[@glynislaidlaw4064]

I have read an awful lot about the Bronte sisters and their lives, I think you have made her too pretty, I base this on her own words, it is authentically documented that she once said she would give all her literary talent/genius away to be considered even a little attractive!!! So very sad! Things haven't changed much have they!

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

She was definitely described as being plain! I agree. My work always kind of ends up being a “beauty shot” - perfect hair and makeup - because of the nature of stock photos and photoshop.

[@glbale]

It was George Smith, Charlotte's publisher, who said that. Not Charlotte herself.

[@bulletsfordinner8307]

@@RoyaltyNowStudios maybe you can make a version where she doesn't have Red lipstick but natural lips a bit Les mascara it appears she had those big bulgy eyes with small lashes almost non existent and specially the shirt is very modern maybe something more loose like a opened long loose blouse? Just suggestions. I like your work

[@bulletsfordinner8307]

@@RoyaltyNowStudios her skin looks to me to be more on the pale side with her cheeks more on the pale rosy side. Rosy in front like a tiny bit of pinkish rosaceae.

[@theorderofthebees7308]

I think you got to take into consideration that people tend to compare themselves to the beauty standards of the time not how they actually looked.

[@boomeracres4813]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for a glimpse of a beautiful and talented woman.

[@annecosgrove2133]

She is one of my favorite authors. The photograph was fascinating. I wouldn’t use the term shy to describe her. She looks intense and serious. I think if she smiled, she would look more relaxed. Thank you for this video.

[@ScarletVoodoo]

This is wonderful! I used to enjoy doing things like this in photoshop but you're next level.

[@AmazingJane137]

Have you seen the recent photograph that probably shows all three of the Brontes? It would be fascinating to revisit this image.

[@sarah_n_dippity]

She literally mentions it in the video and shows part of it

[@MysteryScoop]

Excellent video!

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you very much!

[@jennifercaley7422]

I love this! thank you. Would love to see you do the other Bronte sisters too

[@allison5363]

love your work it’s fascinating

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you!

[@evacoulouri1322]

Jane Eyre what a masterpiece book....i love it so powerful talks about the choice in the life of women at the moment when the women was completely submissive to the domination of men.... a story with values ​​with morals with soul with a woman with love and passion for life a protagonist centuries before her time.......what is the choice in the life of a human being..... ?Jane chose beyond behaviors and situations from her past she chose with strong will with her wants with values ​​she did not hate she did not punish she did not change for her love she preferred to stand honest to herself so that she does not self-destruct .... how many women choose with this way today ....? based not on what is fashion or the image but on the basis of their real possibilities, giving value to their lives .... an excellent book, deeply human and truly feminist ...

[@arifakhund5762]

It is her work that make her the most attractive lady in the world.

[@robertoa.m.3984]

Congratulations 👏 on your wonderful work!!

[@Teachering]

You flatter Charlotte Bronte, I have no doubt.

[@jeanproctor3663]

This is lovely! It's great to be able to imagine what Charlotte might look like if she was alive now - the sort of person you might want to go walking with and probably share secrets with.

[@margaretmesacortez2421]

Beautiful!

[@annetekoul]

Charlotte has been my role model ever since i read Jane Eyre in my early teens. She gave away to the world the most of herself through her book. I believe that the inspiration behind the character of Jane is Charlotte herself.She might have been plain but she was a strong individual and had a singular mind. Eternally grateful to her for creating the masterpiece called Jane Eyre

[@karanfield4229]

I found yr channel 2 days ago and I'm OBSESSED! I ❤ IT.

[@slowfootlabeef704]

Very cool! I would love to see "her" reading one of her poems or some of Jane Eyre!

[@kimomar10]

You got skills. I absolutely love it. You are amazing. I like your backstory on each rendition and how you created each model. Just stunning. (what 2 dirtbags would downvote this?!)

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you! haha I always wonder who the downvoters are. They must really hate harmless & fun history content!

[@leesurridge2947]

I just discovered your amazing channel yesterday and have been binge watching your vids. I saw Charlotte's face amongst other faces in a thumbnail to another one of your vids, and being a Brontë sisters fan, I just had to search for this vid right away. 👌

[@petekellett4181]

Thanks! We used to visit the bronte museum regularly as kids. I wonder if the self caricature was based on the Punch and Judy poppets? It looks like Judy! Also the daguerreotype looks more like Emily. Great job!

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you! That’s very cool, sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I’ll have to create Emily sometime too

[@stevemiller7433]

I loved reading Jane Eyre, multiple times. I've seen every movie version of the book. I made a pilgrimage to Haworth, Yorkshire to see their home. My Daughter's name is Charlotte. I would have loved to talk with Charlotte Bronte. I guess I'm a fanboy. Thank you for this, you brought her to life.

[@kevinmoore7010]

Oh thank you so much. I'm just re reading Vilette. Her writing has completly blown me away. Although I found myself having words over Vilette... Amazing work that you're doing. A bit like the portrait version of what I've been trying to do: How is this Lucy Snow?? Miss Bronte has me in kittens with her 'unreliable narrator'. I never believed the 'plain girl' malarkey. In fact it's one of the things that first put me on to the possibility that Miss Bronte might be playing cat and mouse with her admiring reader.. And to think such a straight forward and honest looking woman wrote such profound work with such a playful wit. Now that is something that amuseses me very much.

[@ethelynpelham4857]

I have a degree in applied graphic art which i have described as using a computer as your medium. This is the best recreation I have seen, and I am sure this is because the drawingis attributed to Bramwell.

[@roinerov9348]

We are not sure yet,but I think that the portrait of the 3 women in that photo is real. There is no reason to believe someone lied about what was written in the backside of the photo. Not just in the photo, but in drawings, Charlotte has piercing eyes. And therefor I feel that Charlottes eyes are lost in your drawing. Her eyes must have been more intense.

[@jonemmy5326]

Just stumbled across this channel, glad I did. So well researched and intelligently put together and to think that photo could be Charlotte! She seemed beautiful in every way that matters. Anyone interested check out Juliet Barker's biography, though bear in mind it's a BIG book.

[@apostolia2124]

Sharp eyelook, sweet, sensitive face.......she must have been really cute!!🌟👌

[@MissTudorRose]

This is so cool! I'm a huge fan of the Brontes and love these realistic renderings of historical figures. :) By the way, though he isn't exactly famous in his own right (quite unfortunately, as he was talented like his sisters but his life was ruined by addictions and other troubles), it would be great if you could do something similar for Branwell. Apparently from artistic depictions of him he looked a lot like John Lennon.

[@talex1625]

I have this picture on my wall, I love it!

[@donnamcardle8928]

Great job

[@AGreatWork]

Hello Becca, could you remake this giving us a bit of history behind her life and career? I know it already but I enjoy your videos so much. Thank you

[@jomurphy1654]

I would love to see you stay on the face more - then take it back to its period both in terms of costume and hair, and taking away the lipstick? That would be amazing! I am absolutely obsessed by the Brontes.

[@julierobertson9397]

Your depiction of Charlotte affirms my belief that portraits of previous times tend to dehumanize and "wash out" appearances, especially of female figures of note. I haven't verified information to confirm my belief is true, but your rendition is both historically and artistically worthy of consideration.

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you so much, what a kind and thoughtful comment :) I agree that the portraits are washed out, and in some cases never even made or discarded for women.

[@bulletsfordinner8307]

That has to do with the lenses and film sensitivity. In this case plaque sensitivity since it was a Daguerreotype. The lense would most likely have a green/yellow filter to it so most of the skin looks smother and silkier but it tended to look overall with less contrast "washing" away the reddish tones (example brown has a reddish base color - wavelength). Sorry for my rant

[@ruthbosveld449]

Old portraits often used red pigments that have faded. Current adaptations need to take that into account. I love these renderings. They, plus the backstory, bring the history to life. Thank you!

[@BrontëChick]

How about doing one of Emily?

[@davidburton-richardson9516]

Amazing work and so interesting.

[@danizhou7571]

She looks like an arts student that lives in Brooklyn

[@june7rose]

These are wonderful and I love that they bring history to life. If you have a fault, I think you have a tendency to make everyone younger and better looking than they were, but that's not a tendency the subject will ever find fault with. ;)

[@gitanjalinandan]

I love it when you say lets see her/him ...now...its a moment of Reveal. I think you started doing this in later videos.

[@Blake_.Dryden]

If I could find someone like her today, I’d take her over any commonly held ideal of physical beauty. I honestly mean that. If I could find a woman w the emotional intelligence and complexities of Jane Eyre, or anyone capable of creating that amazing character, I might not feel like such an alien. I’m most often too intense for people.

[@Toby_the_Glen]

It's fascinating watching you work and listening to your 'process'. But I feel that you've really flattered her by giving her a more heart shaped face. Your end result is a beautiful girl, I'm sure she would have approved, but I'm not sure that it's truly accurate.

[@musgrave6886]

very interesting take on charlotte's looks. for many years, her friend ellen nussey's photo was mistakenly thought to be that of hers. anne was said to be the pretty one among the three sisters; and it's fiery emily who fascinates me above all.

[@Lisa.spinelli]

Brillant ! 👏👏👍🤗🥰

[@ebrozo]

Could you please add one that has the light grey eyes, no makeup, and hair style and clothing of her time? Your rendering does add to the argument that the photo is of the Bronte sisters. Thank you!

[@welshpete12]

You have a remarkable talent , but I do think you have made her to pretty !

[@alfreddunn03]

So enjoyable.

[@eggarts9158]

I don’t know if you take suggestions but George Eliot (Marry Anne Evans) could be an interesting person to do, she was an English author who used a male name as at the time women couldn’t write and publish books without a massive scandal

[@cinnamonblue]

very interesting. Didnt know about the photo. Please do emily that would be amazing, thanks

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

These ALWAYS come out making the woman pretty to contemporary eyes. Just for once I'd like to see a famous woman of the past shown as the great majority of women actually are - average.

[@missliss2581able]

Most “average” people are still generally attractive, especially when they make the effort to look their best as someone would for a photograph or a portrait

[@madtheghost337]

Zooey Deschannel vibes. Amazing stuff!

[@mainlyfine]

She was undoubtedly a genius but your rendering of Charlotte from Branwell's painting is far too pretty. One and all described her as 'plain' and Charlotte herself bemoaned her looks. Apparently it was Emily who was the beauty among the sisters. Still, thank you for this interpretation. If Charlotte could see it I am sure she would be delighted.

[@Maisha2006]

She was noted in her lifetime as very striking looking, had four proposals, and two loves. I think her looks qualify as pretty in our day, but she didn’t think herself so because of the beauty standards of the time and she had dental issues.

[@initiatinreallife]

I read that Anne was the most beautiful, according to those who knew the sisters.

[@initiatinreallife]

Also: I disagree. Charlotte got at least 3 marriage proposals during her life, so she definitely could not have been ugly. Beautystandards have also changed. So if this picture of her looks beautiful to us that is most likely because we have different standards for measuring female beauty. Plus, this modern version is wearing make up.

[@mainlyfine]

@@initiatinreallife First, nowhere did I say Charlotte was ugly, I merely said THIS rendering of her was unlikely, and secondly, if your premise is right, only pretty women would ever marry - 'ugly' women would never get any proposals. Perhaps, just perhaps, it was her personality that drew suitors.

[@initiatinreallife]

@@mainlyfine I do think that it is unlikely that she was ugly, if she got 3 proposals. Doesn't mean that it is impossible. But "plain" as she described herself, Doesn't even translate to "ugly". She was just not beautiful- according to the standards of the time. If she lived today, had access to makeup, it is very likely that she would have looked like this, as she wasn't ugly, she was simply not beautiful (which very much fits this rendering).

[@roger1uk676]

Love it! 😊

[@creolelady182]

Interesting video. Are there any Bronte descendants from Patricks side still in Ireland

[@markhodgson2348]

Oh I would love to see how you approach Anne ,well all of the family for that matter

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

She could be played by Kiera Knightly. There needs to be a new Bronte film!

[@ksotikoulamarie5452]

If you type in any search machine: "Charlotte bronte self sketch" you can see a pencil sketch in her atlas book that was previously thought to be a sketch of a fellow student .But some think it is of herself because her hand seems drawn through a reversion of a mirror. If it IS her, it both relates to Jane Eyre drawing herself and also I like the expression of it. She seems both serious and playful.

[@christianealshut1123]

That's really a genius find - if you flip that picture sideways, there is actually a great resemblance to the Richmond portrait, although Richmond made Charlotte's face a little more elongated.

[@lindylund280]

Lovely.

[@stofelie]

She looks very passionate in her photograph she looks to be a passionate woman.

[@stefyguereschi]

READING FOR LIFE" JANE EYRE! FAMOUS LITERALLY 💥

[@Claudiaxyz]

Can you create Emily Bronte as well? 🙂

[@viewer1youtuber529]

How about colouring up the Daguerrotype for comparison?

[@kimquinn7728]

My immediate thought upon viewing her portait by Bramwell, Sigorney Weaver is a descendent. Just my first thought as i know nothing about Ms. Weaver. Same jawline. Amazing.

[@kweiner411]

Interesting work. Such an enigma as to what these sisters really looked like. The photograph has a woman with light greyish eyes, which contradicts Branwell's depiction. I wish you would have made her without makeup, and put her hair in a similar style as the painting, just to get a better comparison. She looks too pretty to me, from the descriptions. But otherwise, nice work!!

[@JulieVinca]

Very beautiful ❤

[@theoysterbird9846]

Charlotte thought herself 'almost repulsive ' so her little sketch is a good rendering of her psychological assessment of her looks.

[@TheJoan48]

There's a few things to mention. I think her cheeks would have been thinner. They were sickly in general and this face is super healthy looking. The biggest thing that you should consider though is that the sisters probably never wore makeup. She looks lovely, yes, but it's not in character for her. She wouldn't dream of wearing lipstick or blush. Try to do a version without that, plus her hair would be usually in a bun. It was the Victorian style then, just like makeup etc are the style now. In other words, this is the modernized version. Very lovely, but a clean face version is much more her. Sorry if this is rather blunt of me. I'd love to see her Victorian version. You do such exciting work!

[@scot60]

One of my favorite books

[@staffanlindstrom576]

You should do Anne Brontë who was the pretty one judging from the portrait by Branwell. Then you wouldn´t have to prettify so much.

[@Arazhul12]

Beauty is in the eye..... We all know this. Who knows whoever told her she is ugly and she believed it? Most people believe they are not pretty and people around them would say they are.

[@dixiepeach8698]

She is a very pretty lady. She looks very interesting as well.

[@angelicaravenhilt661]

She was so pretty

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

Question: Did you use any “family resemblance” factors when doing Charlotte’s portrait? The nose shape is so different in the two portraits. Is there a portrait of either parent, etc.? Thanks.

[@jakecavendish3470]

The reconstruction looks so like Big Bella who runs my local café. I can't imagine her writing literature but you can't fault the woman's expertise with a deep fat frier.

[@theresamauldin4273]

She looks great

[@johnsolimine1164]

Very kind and pretty face

[@agnieszkabachmatiuk1165]

Beautifull writeress.

[@BooThing14]

Just goes to show that for some people the hairstyle is everything...i dont think she was as "plain" she was led to believe...but the styles of the time did her no favors.

[@funjuror]

Excellent, please give Emily a try:)