A collection of sketches, prints, and letters from and to noted English portrait painter, Sir David Wilkie

Sir David Wilkie archive of letters, including 13 ALS from Wilkie, received letters, ephemera, prints, and a pencil drawing of Sir Walter Scott.

London: 1800s.

Price: $13,500.00


About the item

[16] ALS letters; [1] original sketch; [24] prints; [5] leaves assorted ephemera. A collection of sketches, prints, and letters from and to noted English portrait painter, Sir David Wilkie. Letters and prints are bright, the prints are especially crisp and detailed; a very good collection.

Item #346743

Sir David Wilkie (b.1785 - d.1841) was a Scottish-born painter known for his historical scenes and portraits, and was Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and Queen Victoria. Included here are letters to his engraver Thomas MacDonald, letters from portrait painters Thomas Phillips and Charles R. Leslie, as well as a selection of sketches and prints.

This collection includes: letters, several to engraver, Thomas MacDonald: ALS to Thomas MacDonald, April 12, 1815 re: best proofs of The Blind Fiddler painting; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, (n.d., possibly 1814) re: The Letter of Introduction; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, July 26, 1813 re: taking the Huntington coach at the Bell & Crown Inn; ALS letter to Thomas MacDonald from engraver, Abraham Raimbach, February 25, 1818 re: a print of The Rent Day; ALS to unknown, March 14, 1821 re: the authenticity of an original painting verses a duplicate; ALS to Mr. Moore, February 29, 1841 re: a voyage; ALS to Mrs. [Ann] Coppard (Wilkie's landlord), July 2, 1829; ALS to Thomas MacDonald ca. 1811 re: Wilkie's election as an Associate of the Royal Academy; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, n.d., re: subscriptions, and mentions Abraham Raimbach and Reynolds; ALS to Mrs. [Ann] Coppard, n.d.; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, n.d., re: sending out account books and prices; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, n.d., re: MacDonald getting a proof for an engraving and an exhibition closing; ALS to Thomas MacDonald, n.d., re: advertising bills at Temple Bar; ALS to "My Dear Sister" [Helen Wilkie] from David Wilkie in Constantinople re: intro to Mr. Fennesey of Her Majesty's government (Wilkie painted a portrait of Abd-ul-Mejidin, the Sultan of Turkey, while in Constantinople in 1840, intending it as a present for Queen Victoria, who, in the event, bought the painting.), January(?) 5th, 1841; ALS to David Wilkie from Thomas Phillips, November 15, 1819; ALS from [Charles] R. Leslie to A. Cooper Esq. re: having Wilkie give a studio visit, n.d.;

Also included is a pencil drawing of Sir Walter Scott (Wilkie painted 'The Abbotsford Family' in 1817 after visiting Scott, which incorporates Scott's family, friend, and dogs into a group portrait with Scott at the center); 11 lithographic prints; a selection of 13 plates with accompanying pages taken from the posthumous 'The Wilkie Gallery' ca. 1845; an announcement for 'John Knox Administering The Sacrament' engraved by J. Talfourd Smyth, from the unfinished picture by Sir David Wilkie, R.A.; a ticket to a lecture at the Royal Academy London, with Wilkie's manuscript signature, 1816; an Irish Lottery Ticket with the manuscript signature of Wilkie's father, 1790; a royal invitation to a private viewing of Wilkie's portrait of Queen Victoria's commissioned painting, 'The First State Council' (April 1844?); a certificate of purchase for 'The Chelsea Pensioners Reading the Gazette of the Battle of Waterloo', August 6, 1830.