A CLAIM of a newly-discovered photograph of the Brontë sisters has received a sceptical reaction from experts.

Brontë Parsonage Museum collections manager, Ann Dinsdale, describes as “incredible” the chance the women in the grainy picture – bought on eBay for £15 – are the literary siblings of Charlotte, Emily and Ann.

She said: “I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s very unlikely.

"The chance of establishing it as a genuine photograph of the sisters is very unlikely.”

A national newspaper has reported Halifax collector Seamus Molloy, 47, had bought the 4½in by 3¼in image because he thought its subjects resembled the Brontës in a portrait painted by their brother, Branwell.

The image, on glass, was sold as a portrait of three women from about 1900, but Mr Molloy believes it really dates from six decades earlier, when the sisters were still alive.

This would date the image to the early days of commercial photography, and before any of the four sisters became famous for their writing.

Mr Molloy claims that by using photo enhancing software, he has identified the word ‘Bells’ on the reverse, hinting at the pseudonyms the sisters when publishing their writing – Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell.

Ann Dinsdale, who has written several books about Haworth and the Brontës, said there were several reasons why the picture is unlikely to be authentic.

She said: “Emily died in 1848. Photography was in its infancy, so the idea of them having their picture taken is incredible.

“When Emily died no one knew who she was, so why would anyone take pictures of three obscure clergymen’s daughters?

“And why would they want to have their photos taken? Charlotte was very shy about her appearance. She sat for a portrait in 1850, and it’s clear it was an ordeal for her.

“A photograph would have been such a big thing because it was so unusual. It would have been documented somewhere.”

Ann said the women in the photograph did not resemble those in Branwell’s famous portrait, which is believed to show a good likeness to the real-life Charlotte, Anne and Emily.

Ann added: “We have three portraits of Anne painted by Charlotte and they all show a woman with small, sharp features and curly hair, and it’s not a likeness to the women in the picture.

“In my years at the Parsonage, I’ve lost count of how the pictures we’ve received that purported to be of one or more of the Brontës.”

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