The Burial Of Atala, French Oil On Canvas, 1800'S

This is an extraordinary painting that was discovered recently in Avignon in the South of France. It is based on the famed original The Burial of Atala by the French artist Anne-Louis Girodet created in 1808 and now housed in the Louvre, Paris. It depicts a scene from Chateaubriand's novel, 'Atala', written in 1801 that loosely retells the story of Romeo and Juliet. Here we see Chactas, a Natchez Indian, mourning the maiden Atala, his beloved. Torn between her love for Chactas and the promise of chastity, she drank poison to avoid breaking her vow.

During the 19th century copying masterworks in public museums was a deeply respected cornerstone of artistic training and a thriving commercial practice. Major institutions like the Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery in London set aside specific "copyist days" and encouraged artists to learn from the masters and be inspired by the museums' collections. This was seen as a great training for many artists. Furthermore, selling these high quality replicas to private patrons or tourists on Grand Tours provided a vital income for struggling artists as the 19th-century copies were widely praised as a direct measurement of an artist's technical skill.

This stunning painting is one of those works. It is a truly mysterious work painted with great artistry and still in lovely antique condition with a high gloss, measuring about 46 x 56 cm or approximately 18 x 22 inches. Still in its original 19th century gilded wood frame measuring 60 x 70 cm or about 23.6 x 27.5 inches, it is exactly as I discovered it. For the full condition please refer to the images!

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