Reading the Will

1819

Sir David Wilkie

Associated Names
Sir David Wilkie

Artist, Scottish, 1785 - 1841

In this image, a group of people is depicted in an indoor setting gathered around a table. The central figure, an older man, is seated at the table and is wearing spectacles with a receding hairline, revealing a bald top, and is dressed in a long-sleeved coat fastened with buttons. Next to him, another individual holds a jug. Several people are standing behind or seated around the table, one of whom is reading a newspaper. The individuals have varied facial features and hairstyles, and the clothing seems to be from an earlier era, with high collars and hats among the group. On the table, there are quill pens, ink bottles, and possibly a small container. The background is dark, with a wooden door visible on the left side of the image. The setting gives the impression of a gathering in a modest room where the group appears engaged in reading or listening to the contents of the newspaper.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on chine collé

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Richard A. Simms

  • Dimensions

    plate: 9.1 x 12.6 cm (3 9/16 x 4 15/16 in.)
    page size: 44.5 x 29.9 cm (17 1/2 x 11 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1994.85.1.e

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Dodgson 1923, no. 11, State iv/iv

  • Volume Title

    Etchings by D. Wilkie, R.A.

Associated Artworks

See all 7 artworks
This is a photograph of an old, worn book cover. The cover is textured and aged with visible wear and tear, particularly along the edges. The cover's main design feature is a rectangular area bordered by a decorative, intricate black pattern. Inside this bordered section, the text "ETCHINGS BY D. WILKIE, R.A. LONDON, 1824." is prominently displayed. The cover is mostly light brown or beige with a reddish spine.

Etchings by D. Wilkie, R.A.

Sir David Wilkie

1824

The image shows three children kneeling on the ground, holding hands or possibly dancing. The central child wears a wide-brimmed hat and a long-sleeved garment. The child to the left wears a smaller hat and a jacket, seen from the back and side. The child to the right looks directly into the scene with short hair and light clothing. A small dog stands nearby. The background features sketchy trees and textured clouds in the sky.

The Sedan Chair

Sir David Wilkie

1815

The image is an etching showing a man standing inside a building, visible from the waist up and leaning out of a window with his body angled slightly toward the viewer. He is holding a piece of paper in his hands, examining it closely. A woman is outside, her back turned to the viewer, with her hair tucked under a bonnet. She wears a long dress and her body is slightly angled as she looks towards the man in the window. The etching is set against a backdrop of a building's façade, with details of brickwork and wooden window frames visible around the window where the man stands. The window is divided into smaller panes, typical of older architectural styles. The overall background is simple, with emphasis on the interaction between the two figures.

Woman at a Window, Reading a Letter

Sir David Wilkie

1813


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, William Weston Gallery, London, 30 January 1985, no. 69); purchased by Richard A. Simms, Los Angeles; gift to NGA, 1994.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1923

  • Dodgson, Campbell. "The Etchings of Sir David Wilkie, R.A." Walpole Society XI (1922-23): 73ff.

Inscriptions

in plate, lower right in image: DW. 1819

Wikidata ID

Q75125575

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