‡ SIR DAVID WILKIE (SCOTTISH 1785-1841) THE DEATH OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY Oil on panel 36 x 25cm (14 x 9¾ in.)Provenance: Commissioned from the artist by Samuel Dobrée (1759-1827), 1818 Thence by descent to his son Bonamy Dobrée (1794-1863), by 1842 Thence by descent to his son Bonamy Dobrée (1818-1907) Thence by descent to his son Bonamy Dobrée, Jr. (1863-1891) Thence by descent to his son Professor Bonamy Dobrée (1891-1974) By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 19 June 1957, lot 37 There acquired by Harvey Smythe, London By whom subsequently returned to Sotheby's and to Professor Bonamy Dobrée Thence by descent to Georgina Dobrée (1930-2008), London By whom anonymously sold, London, Sotheby's, London, 14 November 1990, lot 62 There acquired by Richard L. FeigenLiterature: S. Dobrée, The Book of Death, London 1819, n.p A. Cunningham, The Life of Sir David Wilkie, London, 1843, vol. II, pp.7-8, 11-13 D. Wilkie, The Wilkie Gallery, a selection of the best pictures of the late Sir David Wilkie, London and New York, 1848, n.p. engraving reproduced W. Bayne, Sir David Wilkie R.A., London, 1903, p.79 H.A.D. Miles et.al, Sir David Wilkie of Scotland (1785 - 1841), exhibition catalogue, Raleigh, 1987, p.85 H.A.D. Miles, Sir David Wilkie 1785-1841, exhibition catalogue, London, 1994, pp. 63-65. cat. no.16Exhibited: London, British Institution, 1842, no. 22 (lent by Bonamy Dobrée) Manchester, Art Treasures Exhibition, 1857, no. 267 (lent by Bonamy Dobrée) London, Grosvenor Gallery, 1888, no. 66 (lent by Bonamy Dobrée, Jr.) London, Richard L. Feigen & Co., Sir David Wilkie 1785-1841, 13 October - 25 November 1994, no. 16Engraved: Abraham, Raimbach, 1819 William Greatbach, circa 1848-50This painting was commissioned by Samuel Dobrée, a distinguished bibliophile and collector of modern masters, who had purchased Wilkie's Letter of Introduction, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1814. In January 1818 Dobrée asked Wilkie for illustrations for his Book of Death, an anthology of the deaths of more than 200 notable persons drawn from Chamber's Encyclopaedia. As the work was of an historical genre Wilkie suggested Thomas Stothard (1755-1834) as a more appropriate artist, but as this was not forthcoming finally Wilkie agreed to help him.The result was the present painting and The Death of the Chevalier Bayard, though only the present work was used as the basis for an engraving by Raimbach, published in 1819.The present work shows the influence of Titian upon Wilkie at this date in both composition and particularly in colour palette. In 1817 and 1818, Wilkie was copying works by Titian in private collections or on loan to National Gallery and National Galley of Scotland.Sir Philip Sidney, poet and diplomat was appointed Governor of Flushing by Queen Elizabeth in 1585, he was shot during the attack on a Spanish convoy, had managed to ride back to camp, but died from his wounds three weeks later. Wilkie in his depiction of the scene technically shows the moment after he has been shot. Dobrée's source for the death was Chalmers's revised edition of The General Biographical Dictionary, XXVII, 1816, p. 510, 'As Sir Philip was returning from the field of battle, pale, languid, and thirsty, with excess of bleeding, he asked for water to quench his thirst - the water was brought, and no sooner reached his lips than he resigned it to a dying soldier, whose ghastly countenance attracted his notice, speaking these words: " This man's necessity is greater than mine."' The noble moral of Sidney's worthiness, even in death, often quoted.A related drawing was offered Christie's, Scotland, 30 October 2003, lot 8. We are grateful to Alex Kidson for his help in preparing this catalogue entry. The work will be included in Hamish Miles' forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the work of David Wilkie.
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