The Entombment of Atala, 1808

Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson

The Entombment of Atala, also called The Burial of Atala, is an 1808 oil painting by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson.

It depicts a dramatic scene from François-René de Chateaubriand’s novel Atala (1801), a tragic love story set in 17th-century America.

The painting captures the moment when Father Aubry and Chactas prepare to bury Atala, a young Christian woman who chose to end her life rather than break her vow of chastity.

Girodet’s composition blends Neoclassical precision with Romantic sentiment, emphasizing the emotional intensity of the scene.

Atala, dressed in a white burial shroud, holds a crucifix, symbolizing her devotion to faith.

Chactas, the grieving lover, clings to her lifeless body, while Father Aubry solemnly assists in the burial.

This work reflects the revival of Christianity in post-revolutionary France, aligning with Chateaubriand’s literary efforts to defend religious ideals.

It was first exhibited at the Salon of 1808 and later acquired by Louis XVIII in 1818.

Today, it is housed in the Louvre Museum.

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