EMPIRE PERIOD CLOCK "THE DELIVERANCE OF THE INDIAN NATCHEZ CHACTAS BY ATALA". In chased, patinated and gilt bronze, the white enamelled dial signed "Bonnet/ à Aix" inscribed in a rock, resting on a rectangular base adorned in the centre with a bas-relief representing the funeral of Atala; accidents and missing parts. H. 39.5 cm (15 ½ in.) l. 32 cm (12 ½ in.) Comparative bibliography: P. Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française, les Editions de l'Amateur, p. 359, fig. D. D. Tardy, La Pendule Française, Paris, 1969, Vol II, p. 171. An Empire patinated and gilt-bronze mantel clock This clock was inspired by an episode from Chateaubriand's 1801 novel Les Natchez, Atala-René. Chactas, the adopted son of a Christian named Lopez, has been taken prisoner by an enemy tribe, but Atala, a young Indian girl with a Christian upbringing, frees him. The two escape. After wandering for a long time, they meet a missionary, Father Aubry, who sets out to unite them by converting Chactas to Christianity. To save her daughter's life before she was born, Atala's mother had promised God that she would remain a virgin. To avoid succumbing to Chactas' temptation and remain faithful to her mother's promise, Atala poisons herself, despite her love for Chactas.