A NEW painting honoring Crimean War nurse Mary Seacole has been unveiled at Guy Hospital.
Artist Richard Wilson spent 600 hours over three months creating the 1.4 meter by 2.2 meter canvas, which depicts Mary in 1857 at her home in London’s Soho Square.
Wilson was commissioned by the developers at City & Docklands to provide a portrait of the Jamaican-born nurse as part of a larger regeneration program at Mary Seacole Memorial Park, a short walk from Marys Tomb in the north -west London.
The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation is working with City & Docklands on the project. Rather than leaving the artwork in storage, the painting is on loan to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust until at least the end of 2022, and will eventually reside in its permanent home at the Miter Yard development.
Staff from Guy’s Hospital were joined by the Mary Seacole Trust and City & Docklands in celebrating the new painting on what would have been Mary’s 216e anniversary – on the same day Jamaica declared November 23 Mary Seacole Day.
Avey Bhatia, Head Nurse for Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “Mary Seacole was an amazing person and a great role model. His writing, heritage and memory endure and have touched the development of modern healthcare. I am delighted that we can host this magnificent painting by Richard Wilson at Guy Hospital so that our staff, patients and visitors can sit, reflect and be inspired by it.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity owns, manages and maintains the Trust’s artwork, and has supported the professional artwork handling service and installation of the new painting at Guy’s Hospital.
This is the second tribute to Seacole on display at the Trust.
In June 2016, a statue honoring the nurse was unveiled in the grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital, believed to be the first statue in the UK dedicated to a named black woman.
The official unveiling of sculptor Martin Jennings’ work came after 12 years of campaigning by the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal, raising more than £ 500,000.
Trevor Sterling, President of the Mary Seacole Trust, said: “We are delighted that this stunning portrait of Mary by Richard Wilson has found a suitable temporary home at Guy Hospital. People have enjoyed the Statue of Mary within the grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital for over five years, so it is wonderful to be able to share the portrait of Mary with Guy’s staff and patients. I would like to thank the staff and management of Guy’s and St Thomas’ for their commitment to promoting Mary’s heritage and values.
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