A Room with a View
Examining the Film through an Art Historian's Lens
Curated by Melissa Martin

To preface: I did not intend for the title of my collection to relate directly to the 1986 film. However, after re-watching A Room with a View, I thought it might provide a nice story to weave into the paintings. Please join me for a journey through the Academy-Award winning masterpiece and accompanying artwork.

Jacques-Louis David, View of the Jardin du Luxembourg, 1794

"Smell! A true Florentine smell. Inhale, my dear. Deeper! Every city, let me tell you, has its own smell." - Eleanor Lavish
Not only does each city have its own scent, its own character, but it has its own unique history. Though David's historical paintings formed his reputation, he occasionally ventured outside of his typical style, one prime example of this being View of the Jardin du Luxembourg. The main aspect that sets this work apart from the rest is the bird's-eye view that David employs. Maybe he imagined himself as a pigeon soaring over the park's winding paths, or perhaps he envisioned the viewer as a nobleman overlooking the visitors from the palace's balconies.

So what exactly does this work have to do with A Room with a View? Well, after some careful research, I discovered that the settings share much in common. The backdrop for the film, beautiful Florence, actually inspired the park's design. King Henri IV's widow, Marie de Medicis, created the park in the 17th century as an homage to her childhood home. This little slice of Florence may have cured the queen's homesickness, but I'm sure Ms. Lavish would attest that nothing holds a candle to the authenticity of Firenze, Italia.