CHARLOTTE BRONTË (Mrs. Arthur Bell Nicholls). 1816-1855. Novelist. Author of _Jane Eyre_ and other works. Painted in 1850 by "Paul Héger." Purchased, July 1906. (1444) NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY CATALOGUE:-- Painted in water-colours in 1850, and stated to be by "Paul" (or Constantin) Héger, after an earlier portrait by her brother Branwell Brontë. NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE:-- Water-colour drawing stated to be by "Paul" (or Constantin) Héger, after Branwell Brontë. (1444) I may add that the inverted commas used in regard to M. Héger's name are employed because "Paul" was not his common name. He was an active member of the Society of S. Vincent de Paul, and Charlotte Brontë portrayed him as M. Paul in her novel, _Villette_, commenced not later than the close of 1850 or the beginning of 1851. [100] Italics mine. [101] In _Chapters from Some Memories_, by Anne Thackeray Ritchie. [102] By "Mrs. Brookfield's party" Lady Ritchie means the later distinguished party. In _Mrs. Brookfield and her Circle_, page 305, vol ii. (1905), a first dinner given by Mr. Thackeray for Charlotte Brontë in November 1849, is spoken of by Mrs. Brookfield as not having been a success; and the second great party at which some clever women were present, to meet Miss Brontë in 1851, is mentioned with the fact of the non-success of the 1849 party, on pages 355-6. All this now leaves clear the occasion of the 1850 private family dinner at Mr. Thackeray's house, when Charlotte Brontë sat next Lady Ritchie in a light green dress. [103] Mrs. Gaskell's _Life of Charlotte Brontë_. [104] _Ibid._ [105] The Roman numerals refer to the Preface. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Key to the Brontë Works, by John Malham-Dembleby