Students challenged to ‘paint piece of history’ in tribute to Ferrier
A city-centre hotel has partnered with Edinburgh College of Art to celebrate one of the Capital’s “most talented daughters”.
Students will have the opportunity to “paint a piece of history” as a tribute to novelist Susan Ferrier in a competition being sponsored by the InterContinental Edinburgh, The George Hotel.
Launched ahead of International Women’s Day, the competition marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of “The Inheritance” by Ferrier
– who once lived in the townhouses which now form part of the hotel.
A novelist of the Scottish Enlightenment, the Edinburgh author sold more books than Jane Austen in her lifetime, helping to challenge gender stereotypes of the day.
Located at No.25 George Street, the Ferrier family home was well known in intellectual circles during the 1800s, with Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns frequently visiting. Scotland’s national bard even penned a poem to the Ferrier sisters.
The Inheritance tells the story of the young heroine Gertrude as she arrives in the Scottish estate of Lord Rossville to take up her position as his heiress.
She then finds herself in the middle of a gallery of humorous and eccentric characters — and at the centre of a mystery.
The novel is raises questions of morality and education, in particular a woman’s role in marriage and education.
Published in 1824, the book also references national identity and the differences between Scottish and English cultures in the aftermath of the Union of 1707 and the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745.
To mark the bicentennial of its publication, InterContinental Edinburgh The George has worked closely with ECA to create a brief to help inspire students.
As well as becoming part of the hotel’s heritage, the winning artist will also receive a purchase price for their artwork, which will be displayed within the hotel lounge for the months of July and August, before being permanently installed in the hotel’s Ferrier Suite.
Stephanie Lee, Director of Sales at InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel, said: “Partnering with the Edinburgh College of Art on this innovative competition to pay tribute to Susan Ferrier while raising awareness of her wonderful work and talent mirrors InterContinental’s deep respect for the arts.
“Edinburgh has a long lineage of producing world-class creatives and the fact that one of its most talented daughters is celebrating a milestone anniversary, deserves to be commemorated.
“We’re excited to see the students’ interpretations of “The Inheritance” and what it represents for them through their art.
“We’re even more excited to see the winning painting displayed in the Ferrier Suite for guests from around the world to see.”
Susan Mowatt, Head of School of Art, University of Edinburgh; “The Ferrier Painting Award launched by Intercontinental The George to celebrate the achievements of the novelist and publisher Susan Ferrier, is a brilliant opportunity for our art students which will see the selected painting commissioned and installed in the original Ferrier rooms. A really exciting project.”
The competition closes in May with the winner being announced shortly afterwards.
We’re excited to see the students’ interpretations of The Inheritance and what it represents for them through their art