36 I SALAMANDER 2023
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ocated just steps from Marion Square , Hotel Bennett may symbolize contemporary Charleston with its rosy-hued Champagne lounge , grand columns and luxury amenities , but as opulent as the obvious is , guests with a discerning eye will recognize the past is paid due respect . During the hotel ’ s construction , Design Continuum , the property ’ s interior design team , sought out Athens , Georgiabased artist Jill Biskin to commission a 360-degree panoramic view of the 18th century Charleston Harbor spanning the curved panels of the hotel ’ s rotunda . Biskin recalls the request to create this period piece as four murals in the style of Zuber , who since 1797 led the scenic technique of fashioning hundreds of wood blocks into a cohesive , and sprawling , painting .
“ I did a lot of research ,” says Biskin , who was already comfortable working on large-scale , painting stage scenery , including for opera sets in New York City . For style , this included a visit to the Cooper Hewitt and Metropolitan Museum to meet with curators who pulled the entirety of Zuber collections they had accessible . And for context , Biskin peeked into the past through the likes of a 1774 English painting and original etching based on the View of Charles Town from 1775 .
The challenge , she says , was figuring out how to layer stencils on seamless linen , which she used to replicate the Zuber style . “ I ’ ve used stencils for many years but there were hundreds of stencils involved , some eightfeet long . I took it beyond the depth of that technique ,” says Biskin , who adds that there was no brushwork involved . “ I used a spray gun to create the subtle blue transitions in the sky and the reflections in the water .”
This detail , though , is what drives Biskin , as she appreciated the intricacies of the panorama . “ I ’ ve always loved painting architecture , so I really enjoyed going into the spires of the historic churches and painting the tiny details — the tracery of the churches , the windows , the light fittings .” She also detailed the facets of 18th century ships that she stenciled in the forefront , garden gates from the grounds of the
Artist Jill Biskin captured scenes of Charleston ’ s history to wrap around the ground floor of the Hotel Bennett ’ s Rotunda , including this look across Charleston Harbor toward the city ’ s famed Customs House .