The Bonnie Prince Charlie Costume

Esther Pape, The Northern School Of Art

Artist’s Statement

In the artist’s own words, discover the inspiration and creative process behind this costume:

Inspired by the enduring romance and tragedy of ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ and the 1746 Jacobite Rebellion, this costume piece - combining historical accuracy with creative license - is a reimagining of what the famous figure might have worn on the battlefields of Culloden.

Inspiration

I drew inspiration from the different depictions of Bonnie Prince Charlie, amalgamating 18th – century fashion with my own creative response to his story of tragedy and hope. Passionate about historical accuracy, the piece is based on the fashions of the time and what Charles Edward Stuart likely would have worn. However, creative license has allowed me one significant departure from historical replication – namely, the waistcoat, or more precisely, its surface design. For this piece I have deviated from replication and used hand embroidery and beadwork to depict popular Jacobite symbolism.

Symbolism

The white rose – a powerful emblem of the Stuart claim – represents the prince’s hope to reclaim his exiled father’s throne. Additionally, the heart motif acknowledges Robert the Bruce and his connection to Bonnie Prince Charlie, and highlights their shared struggle for the crown.

Materials

The coat is made from Jacobite remnant tartan, by Peter MacDonald of The House of Edgar, and is trimmed with antique braid and lace from the early 1800s. This tartan is an exact reproduction of the one worn by the prince during the rebellion, which he later gifted to Lady Anne MacIntosh.

This costume piece is part of a university project and the complementary culmination of a long-standing personal interest in Bonnie Prince Charlie, the lasting legacy of the Jacobite rebellion, and my passion for historical costume.

With thanks to The Northern School of Art and Isabel Cannon for all their support.