About this artwork
This is one of Wilkie’s preliminary drawings for his 1804 painting ‘Pitlessie Fair’ (NG 1527). The few surviving studies for the Pitlessie Fair are amongst some of Wilkie’s earliest known drawings. Wilkie drew on both sides of this sheet; this side shows studies for some of the figures and animals, and on the reverse is a compositional sketch for the group seated around the table on the left of the painting. Wilkie used 140 models for his painting, including his own father, brothers and sisters.
Updated before 2020
see media-
artist:Sir David Wilkie (1785 - 1841) Scottish
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title:Studies for the Painting 'Pitlessie Fair'
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date created:About 1804
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materials:Black chalk on paper
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measurements:33.20 x 29.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased 1966
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accession number:D 4904
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gallery:
Sir David Wilkie
Sir David Wilkie
Wilkie achieved international recognition for his highly original paintings of events and episodes from contemporary life. His skills as a narrator were evident in the facial expressions and poses of his characters, and in the informative detail he included. He was born in Fife, the son of a rural...
