Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 21: Romanticism - The Funeral of Atala (1808)

by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The next four lessons embrace the Romantic era of art, occurring circa 1770-1920. Romantic artists strove to capture emotion in their works, such as horror, true love, serenity, sorrow, despair, and wanderlust. Romantic artists also emphasized imagination, mysticism, and nature, partly in response to scientific rationalism and the Industrial Revolution. Rather than drawing from classical antiquity like Neoclassical artists, Romantic artists gained inspiration from medieval times. A move toward nationalism was also evident in art. The first featured romantic work, 'The Funeral of Atala,' was painted by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson in 1808. The painting draws from François-René Chateaubriand's 1801 novella 'Atala,' which was set in America in the 1700s. The picture shows American Indian Chactas mourning the death of his beloved Atala in a cave at sunset. Atala took her own life in order to remain true to her Christian values, symbolized by the two crosses in the painting. A cloaked missionary named Father Aubry cradles Atala's upper body. A shovel lies nearby, reminding the viewer of the burial to come.

Vocabulary

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement, stressing emotion, freedom and individual imagination, that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century.
Scientific Rationalism: The theory that scientific reason and logic is a source of knowledge independent of and superior to emotions, experience, or religion.
Industrial Revolution: The major technological, socioeconomic and cultural change in the late 18th and early 19th century resulting from the replacement of an economy based on manual labor to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture.
Medieval: Of or relating to the Middle Ages, the period from approximately 500 to 1500 AD.
Nationalism: Patriotism such as the idea of supporting one's country, people, or culture.
Novella: A short novel or long short story.
Missionary: A person who travels attempting to spread a religion or a creed.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Romanticism
2. Timeline - late 1700s-early 1900s

Romanticism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Passionate Emotions ('The Kiss' by Francesco Hayez in 1859)

2. Nature ('Chalk Cliffs at Ruegen' by Caspar David Friedrich circa 1818-1819)

3. Mysticism ('The Abbey in the Oakwood' by Caspar David Friedrich between 1809-1810)

4. Nationalism ('The Charging Chasseur' by Théodore Géricault circa 1812)

5. Medieval Times ('The Lady of Shalott' by John William Waterhouse in 1888 refers back to medieval Arthurian legend)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Atala
• Chactas
• Father Aubry
• Two Crosses
• Shovel
• Cave
• Missionary
• Someone Mourning Their Love
• Someone Who Died for Their Beliefs

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Read an Excerpt from François-René Chateaubriand's 1801 Novella 'Atala'

• 'Her lips, like a rose-bud gathered two mornings before, seemed to languish and smile. Her cheeks, of sparkling whiteness, showed a number of blue veins. Her beautiful eyes were closed, her modest feet joined together, and her hands of alabaster pressed against her heart an ebony crucifix; the scapulary of her vows was fastened about her neck. She appeared as though enchanted by the angel of melancholy, and by the double sleep of innocence and of the tomb.'

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Romantic art movement.
• Find Romanticism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Romanticism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Romanticism?
• Which art movement followed Romanticism?

Activity 5: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 24 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are Atala, Chactas, and Father Aubry.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is inside a cave.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Romantic art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Romanticism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The Romantic art movement often portrayed strong emotions such as mourning a loved one.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Girodet de Roussy-Trioson painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are Atala, Chactas, and Father Aubry.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is inside a cave.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Romantic art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Romanticism? The Romantic art movement often portrayed strong emotions such as mourning a loved one.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Girodet de Roussy-Trioson painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'Romanticism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Entombment of Atala.' The Louvre. www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/entombment-atala. n.p.