1848
Early memories
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| The earliest published mentions of Wilkie Collins are to be found in the biography he wrote of his father, the artist William Collins (1788-1847) which was published in 1848. The extracts below are from family memories, letters and diaries recorded in that book. The portrait of William Collins is by John Linnell. |
[SIR DAVID WILKIE ON WILKIE COLLINS'S CHRISTENING DAY 17 February 1824]
On the birth of his first son, at the beginning of this year, the painter
requested Sir David Wilkie to become one of the sponsors for his child. The
great artist's first criticism on his future godson is worth recording, from
its originality. Sir David, whose studies of human nature extended to
everything but infant human nature, had evidently been refreshing his
faculties for the occasion, by taxing his boyish recollections of puppies and
kittens; for, after looking intently into the child's eyes, as it was held up
for his inspection, he exclaimed to the father, with serious astonishment and
satisfaction, "He sees!" [I p235]
[WILLIAM COLLINS TO SIR DAVID WILKIE 17 April 1828]
Your godson grows a strapping fellow, and has a
little blue-eyed red-haired bonny bairn, as a brother, about three months old.
[I 299]
[WILLIAM COLLINS'S JOURNAL]
JOURNAL OF 1844.
January 1st, 1844.—As I think it quite possible that my dear son, William Wilkie
Collins, may be tempted, should it please God to spare his life beyond that of
his father, to furnish the world with a memoir of my life, I purpose
occasionally noting down some circumstances as leading points, which may be
useful. [II 247]
From Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R.A. by Wilkie Collins, London 1848
