To William Powell Frith, 6 March 1871


ALS to William Powell Frith, artist and lifelong friend. Single sheet of laid paper 177x225mm watermarked ORIGINAL/TURKEY MILL 1870 folded, integral blank. Stain on fold not affecting text, wax seal remains on reverse. Dated [Monday] 6 March 1871.

The Public Face of Wilkie Collins II 242

[90, Gloucester Place,
Portman Square. W.]

6th March 1871

My dear Frith, 
On Tuesday the 
14th at 7 sharp 
with the greatest 
pleasure.

No "dress" on 
Saturday 11th
mind !

Yrs ever W.C

NOTES

William Powell Frith RA (1819-1909) popular Victorian artist best known for Derby Day and Ramsgate Sands. A lifelong friend of Wilkie, though there is remarkably little about Wilkie in Frith's three volume Autobiography and Reminiscences where he describes Collins as a man who "is as delightful in private as he is in public...an admirable raconteur...of an impeturbably good temper". Once at dinner a guest declared that "popularity is no proof of merit, said to Collins, by way of example: 'Why your novels are read in every back-kitchen in England.' This Collins heard without a sign of irritation."

Wilkie was at this time embarking on Poor Miss Finch which began serialisation on 2 September 1871 in Cassell's Magazine. This short note reminds us that Wilkie insisted on his guests not dressing up when they visited him for dinner.


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