| Description | Letter dated 24 September 1866 to Macdonald from George Reid, R.S.A., 355 De Bree Straat, Utrecht, including sketches: he asks for a letter, and mentions impending departure from Utrecht for Aberdeen, no suitable pictures for Macdonald, Israels' pictures are not to be had, Mollinger's smaller Edinburgh picture [for the R.S.A. exhibition], however, would do, description of it, with sketch, 'it is the essence of a dutch landscape', splendour of collections in some private Dutch houses, visit with Mollinger to Amersfoord to see a private collection, suggestions for a similar gallery at Kepplestone, letter from Cassie saying that he has started a painting for Macdonald, Chalmers and Cameron said to be in Perthshire sketching interiors, plans for journey home, appreciation of Mollinger and regrets at his poor health, progress on his own pictures for Edinburgh, 'I have made no sketches of dutch scenery worth speaking of - as I don't much like it myself … clipped and formal in the extreme', 'the villas of the well to do citizens are quite unique in their way … no sort of desire is shown for privacy - in fact quite the reverse', appreciation of the gardens, except for the fish ponds, 'very often [the names of houses] indicate considerable satisfaction or contentment on the part of the owner, for the one consideration which ever appears uppermost in a dutchman's mind is how to make himself most comfortable', instance of a house called 'The fleshpots of Egypt', description of fishmarket, of rituals surrounding death, of the treatment of dogs, and manners, with sketches of 'characters'. |