Explore the Context of this artwork.
Reacting against the secularism of the French Revolution, both Chateaubriand and Girodet contributed to the revival of Christianity, incorporating religious motifs and iconography into their works.Chateaubriand’s Atala was part of a larger project, The Genius of Christianity (French: Le Génie du Christianisme), written as a defense of Christianity meant to inspire artists and to emphasize moral ideals. Atala tells the story of a Christian girl, Atala, who fell in love with a Natchez Indian, Chatcas. However, this threatens her obligation to her vow of chastity. Atala ultimately chooses to poison herself as a resolution to the struggle between love and the duties of her faith. The story had an immediate impact on artists. The Salon of 1802 featured two paintings directly inspired by Atala. Its tremendous influence persisted over the next half century, as eighteen more paintings were created based on the novel from 1802 to 1848. Girodet was the most significant artist to take up Chateaubriand’s texts at the time.Girodet’s style was influenced by his teacher, the Neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David, but it also had elements of early Romanticism. Deviating from the Classical, heroic scenes prevalent in David’s works, Girodet placed more emphasis on emotions, individuality, and imagination in his art. Turning to Renaissance themes as well as contemporary literature for inspiration, Girodet was quickly drawn to the strong sentiments that were present in Chateaubriand’s Atala.
The Genius of Christianity Romantic Neoclassical Atala French Revolution Romanticism Jacques-Louis David