In the beginning of the film adaptation of Jane Eyre, Jane is treated cruelly by her aunt and cousins in front of an artist who is painting their family portrait. This scene is not in the original novel, but is still significant to Jane’s journey. The artist asks Jane if she “shouldn’t be in the portrait,” extending kindness which Jane has not experienced from her own family (Jane Eyre, Episode 1)..

Portraits in the Victorian era were seen as a way of displaying family dynamic as well as wealth. In 1846, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and her five children were painted by Fran’s Xavier Winterhaler. Winterhaler sought to present a portrait with “domestic harmony, peace and happiness, [and] tradition…” (Royal Collection Trust). In the same way, Jane’s aunt sought a portrait which might show their wealth and create a façade of happiness. Jane would no doubt ruin this façade with her drab clothing and sad demeanor. Her aunt and cousins wore colorful clothing, dressed in their best. Jane would never be a part of their family, even in portraits. The choice by the filmmaker to include this scene helps the viewer understand why Jane feels like an outcast in her childhood home. The scenes with her aunt and uncle’s home are short, which creates a need for quick understanding before the transition into the scene at Lowood.

Throughout the film, Jane has a distinct relationship with art. Art creates a sense of comfort for her. For example, in the opening scene, she imagines herself traveling through a desert from the novel, “Voyages and Travels, Illustrated.” The paintings in the novel are an escape from her current existence. The first kind words spoken to her in the film are from an artist. She uses art to remember Helen Burns, and the first scene where she is teaching includes painting/drawing with charcoal.

As Jane enters Rochester’s office, she observes insects, books, maps, pen and paper, but no portraits. She is unable to associate him with art, which makes him a mystery to her and ultimately more intriguing.  

Works Cited

Jane Eyre. Episode 1. BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2017.

The Royal Collection Trust. Royal Collections Enterprises, Ltd, https://www.rct.uk/collection/405413/the-royal-family-in-1846. Accessed 14 Mar. 2022.

Winterhalter, Franz Xavier. The Royal Family in 1846, 1846. https://www.rct.uk/collection/405413/the-royal-family-in-1846. Accessed 14 Mar 2022.