Talks at Vizcaya: Edith Wharton and the Villas of Rome

Literary inspiration meets architectural history in an exploration of one of America's most perceptive chroniclers of European design and culture. Talks at Vizcaya: Edith Wharton and the Villas of Rome will be presented on Wednesday, February 19 at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.

This presentation examines Wharton's significant contributions to garden criticism through her influential 1904 work, Italian Villas and their Gardens. Landscape architect CeCe Haydock will guide attendees through slides of eight Roman villas featured in Wharton's book, revealing how these grand estates influenced both the author's residential designs and her literary works.

Haydock brings extensive expertise to the subject as a licensed New York landscape architect with credentials from Princeton University and SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her accomplished career spans public and private sector work, with a focus on sustainable design and green building practices.

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with complimentary wine, followed by the talk at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, with free admission available for students and Vizcaya Members.