A portrait of Sweet Briar’s ninth president, Elisabeth Showalter Muhlenfeld, was unveiled Friday, Nov. 7 at Mary Helen Cochran Library, continuing a tradition that has been in place since the College’s founding in 1901.

President Muhlenfeld (right) poses with artist Ying-he Liu and the presidential portrait.Although Muhlenfeld will not retire until July 2009, her portrait – painted by New York artist Ying-he Liu – already hangs in the library’s main hall alongside renderings of the College’s previous eight presidents.

Liu grew up in China amid that country’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and immigrated to the United States in 1981. In her remarks, Liu said she was grateful for the opportunity to paint Muhlenfeld’s portrait – not only because it was a “rare and huge honor” and a “big break” in her career, but also because of what it meant to her as a mother.

“A woman artist painting a woman president of a women’s college – such an affirmation of what women can achieve in this country and in today’s world,” she said. “As a mother of a teenage daughter, this commission has special significance to me on a personal level. It sets a great example to my daughter.

“She knows my story. … For her to see one accomplished woman creating the likeness of another even more accomplished woman couldn’t be more affirming – that in this country, one can go as far as one’s God-given talent and hard work takes, regardless of age, gender, race or background.”

In the portrait, Muhlenfeld wears her formal academic regalia and presidential medal, and Cochran Library serves as a backdrop. Liu said she and Muhlenfeld felt using the library as one of the painting’s prominent features was “most appropriate.”

“I understand that major renovation work of this iconic building took place under Betsy’s leadership. … What I tried to convey in this painting is a sense of Betsy’s pride and love of this magnificent academic institution,” Liu said.

“Another thing that Betsy and I felt was that an academic portrait does not have to be stodgy and boring. It can be beautiful and artistic. I hope this portrait serves as a great visual testament of her leadership and accomplishments and an inspiration to generations of women students in their aspiration to achieve greatness in life.”

Liu has a fine arts degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and also studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her portraits can be found in the collections of many universities, colleges, corporations, hospitals and private residences.

Muhlenfeld’s portrait was underwritten by generous donations from the following people: Catherine Barnett Brown ’49 and her husband, Walter, who is an honorary member of the Class of 1949; Sara Finnegan Lycett ’61; Margaret Sheffield Martin ’48; Norma Patteson Mills ’60 and her husband, Olan; and Allison Stemmons Simon ’63.