#chactas

Chactas Meditating on Atala’s Tomb. After Chateaubriand’s Novel

Artist: Louis Édouard Rioult (French, 1790-1855)

Date: 1826

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden

Description

THE BURIAL OF ATALA | 1808 | by ANNE-LOUIS GIRODET DE ROUSSY-TRIOSON

The painting depicts the solemn scene from François-René de Chateaubriand's novel where Chactas, an indigenous American, mourns over the body of his love, Atala, in a lush wilderness setting.

There are three figures in the painting: Atala, Father Aubry, and Chactas. Atala has her head turned to the viewer while her hands together in a prayer-like position. Father Aubry is standing beside her and is lifting her body while Chactas holds her legs. The background of the painting has been well detailed by the collection of tall trees helping to signify the sublime nature of the scene.

The overall painting is highly symbolic. The spade in the foreground speaks of burial. The lines from the Book of Job on the wall of the cave speak of the brevity of life. The cross in the distance speaks of the Christian theme. Against this background, Atala's white dress stands out graphically, indicating how pure and innocent she is even in death. The natural surroundings symbolize the untamed beauty and spiritual connection of the wilderness.

The figures of the painting depict immense emotion.Girodet succeeds in depicting profound sorrow and reverence in the scene. Atala has on a countenance, which is calm, but Father Aubry has on a sorrowsome one. Chactas' melancholy is all over as he hangs on Atala's legs. His body bends forward in a depiction of sorrow and resignation.

Chateaubriand’s Atala

The Funeral of Atala, by Girodet (1808)

An “American” novella: Atala (1801)

In 1791, François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand, an impoverished aristocrat fleeing revolutionary France, travels to America where he spends nine months and lives in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and the Hudson valley. Born of this stay in America are Atala, René, Les Natchez and Voyage en Amérique, an EText.

These…

Chateaubriand’s Atala

The Funeral of Atala, by Girodet (1808)

An “American” novella: Atala (1801)

In 1791, François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand, an impoverished aristocrat fleeing revolutionary France, travels to America where he spends nine months and lives in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and the Hudson valley. Born of this stay in America are Atala, René, Les Natchez and Voyage en Amérique, an EText.

These…