Autograph Letter Signed to "Mr Macdonald/ 87 Pall Mall".

Painter (1785-1841), two pages, 12mo, bifolitate leaf (damaged (adress intact), staining but text clear and complete. Text as follows: "Dear Macdonald/ I forgot to say yesterday that if you wanted a table for the room you should send to Mr Demoy Duke Street. I beg you will see about the bills at Reynells[?], and let me know what you did about the advertising last night and the night before. Put down in the list of subscribers the name of Samuel Whitbread Esq. 35 Dover Street. Proof. [name and following underlined]. I have bought Reynolds plates of Village [Soldier ie Recruit?] [page 2]so that we shall have the coast completely clear. / Yours most truly / D. Wilkie / Lete me know always the whole number of subscribers on the list as well as those that come [during] day/ DW". Added in pencil[?] "12th May 1812". An important letter discussing the arrangements for his first [?] independent exhibition with Macdonald at 87 Pall Mall where the exhibition took place. Whitbread had earlier bought a picture of Wilkie's. See DNB: "In May of the following year [1812] the ‘Alehouse Door’ was exhibited, with a number of other pictures, in a separate Wilkie exhibition, at No. 87 Pall Mall. In addition to ‘Pitlessie Fair’ and a number of pictures which had appeared on the academy walls, this included several studies and original sketches. Although it advanced his reputation, it was not a financial success, and before the month was out the artist had to pay 32l. in order to release the ‘Village Festival,’ which had been unfairly seized for rent owing by a previous tenant of the room. This incident, it was said, gave rise to the subsequent and more successful painting known as ‘Distraining for Rent.’ But perhaps one of the most interesting circumstances in connection with this enterprise was the announcement in the catalogue that Abraham Raimbach [q.v.] was engraving the ‘Village Politicians."