Letter from David Wilkie, London, to Sir George Beaumont, 1811 July 15 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning his painting "The Blind Fiddler;" saying "Your proposal that I should still retain the picture of the Blind Fiddler by me for some time is exceedingly kind considering the length of time I have already had it out of your possession, but as I was anxious that it should be returned as soon as the engraving was done I took it about a week ago with the little Picture from the Academy and lodged them both safe in Grosvenor Square. I could not have kept it long as I am about to leave my present lodging. There is no doubt considerable advantage to be gained by looking occasionally at one's early productions but I have some doubts whether this is not as much in seeing the effect that time and varnish has upon the colours as in any thing that can be derived from the study of the inexperienced notions of art we generally see in a first picture. In case the Print be published before I go out of town I shall endeavour to send you the impression that is allotted for you. My Picture is getting very nearly finished[.] The sky which I have been always most afraid of is now done which leaves me very little else to do. I expect to be able to leave London by the end of this month;" adding, in a postscript, "Before the little picture of the Gamekeeper went home Charpentier repaired the frame & I put some touches on the sleeve of the mans coat which had been a little rubbed."