The ‘Lost’ Portrait of Emily Brontë: There’s Methodism In My ‘Madness’…In the name of The Father —— and of The Son —— and of the unseen energiës that guide my hand —— and help me in my Quest to uncover the Truth about the ‘lost’ portrait of Emily Brontë.Even though the ‘Bonnet Portrait’ may lack provenance — I don’t doubt for a second where it’s come from; last reported seen in Haworth by Sir William Robertson Nicoll in 1879! It is true to say my faith in the pencil portrait — and in William Robertson Nicoll never wavers. 

I bought my latest ‘Bonnet’ related acquisition just a week or so ago; it’s a biographical study by William Robertson Nicoll — published in 1908 by ‘Hodder and Stoughton’ — purchased as an experiment to see whether I get the same vibes from the book as I do the portrait; transferred touch is a powerful medium.🤚🏼 

What makes this biographical study attuned to the portrait — is that it’s signed by its author. I bought ‘My Father — An Aberdeenshire Minister’ online from @webuybooks — via @abebooks 📚 

” MY FATHER: AN ABERDEENSHIRE MINISTER, 1812-1891.
Robertson Nicoll, W.

Price: 15.20

Description: Signed. A rare copy, inscribed and signed by the author. The cover is slightly shelf worn, without a dust jacket. Page edges lightly tanned and untrimmed. A fascinating insight into his life. Good condition is defined as: a copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day.

Order Date: 05 September 2020 “

Note —— there’s no mention of who Nicoll dedicated this particular copy of ‘My Father’ to in the above listing; I feel like I’ve unwittingly received a BOGOF deal! Must be divine intervention – I believe it!  Once in receipt — Friday, 11th September 2020 — I googled my ‘new’ book’s original recipient… I entered ‘Professor A. S. Peake’ and ‘William Robertson Nicoll’ as one query — and got a RESULT(S); ⚡️ ⚡️ —— it’s true then —— lightening can —— and does strike twice! 

In the case of how many ‘Bonnet Portrait’ versions there are as in paintings, it’s thrice and counting ⚡️ ⚡️ ⚡️ —— but there is only one true “very clearly and boldly drawn pencil sketch” – as in the ‘lost’ portrait —— described —— and seen by Sir William Robertson Nicoll in 1879 —— in Haworth.

Arthur Samuel Peake was well-known to Nicoll — and vice versa. Oxford educated Peake was a Methodist layman — “the first non-Anglican to become a professor of divinity in an English University” Wikipedia.

I love how opening up this still warm copy of Nicoll’s ‘My Father’ has introduced me to not one — but two eminent gentlemen of Divinity — not to mention the author himself — equals three!✝️Below is a link to a fascinating obituary written for Nicoll by his friend, Peake — published in the ‘Primitive Methodist Leader’ May 10 1923.

‘William Robertson Nicoll by Arthur S Peake’…
https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/api/datastream?publicationPid=uk-ac-man-scw:15m2188&datastreamId=FULL-TEXT.PDF 📖

Love this frontispiece. There’s one other photogravure – between pages 36 and 37 – of the ‘Free Church Manse, Auchindoir, Lumsden’ where William Robertson Nicoll grew up… 

‘My Father — An Aberdeenshire Minister’ is available to read online here – if you wish to see the Manse: https://archive.org/stream/myfatheraberdeen00nico?ref=ol#mode/2up

Back to my in hand copy of ‘My Father’—— the vibrations get ever stronger; because on page 37 — Charlotte Brontë gets a shout-out! Nicoll’s father, Rev’d Harry Nicoll ardently admired Charlotte too — “but more for her fortitude of her life than for her books.”  

I ardently admire Charlotte for the fortitude of her ‘lost’ art too… 

In light of page 37 above —— and in the name of The Father – Nicoll’s Father —— indeed Nicoll and friend —— “Professor a. s. Peake” – I find it utterly inconceivable that Reverend Harry Nicoll’s son would have printed fake news in his role as chief editor of the ‘Woman at Home’ in 1894 —— when he published this photogravure of the ‘Bonnet Portrait’ of Emily Brontë… 

Here endeth today’s lesson —— Sunday, 20th. September 2020.

De-light-ful ‘Tabbykins’ —— a neighbourly, somewhat nervy little cat from somewhere? – who comes to my garden and even into my house and takes a wander! First seen on Wednesday, 16th September 2020. No idea where ‘Tabbykins’ comes from – or where Tabbykins goes? 

Thank you @yorkshirecathie on Instagram – for deciphering the middle line of Nicoll’s dedication to Peake – says “with warm regards”. Sir William Robertson Nicoll reportedly had ‘indecipherable’ handwriting; I’m saying nowt!