Marie Tussaud was born in 1761. She became wealthy and famous because of her talent for creating wax sculptures. Her business skills and the public’s fascination with figures and bodies also contributed to her rise to fame.
Today, Tussaud is mainly remembered for creating the famous wax museum in Britain. It’s still in operation and has spawned numerous other similar establishments. However, in her native France, she noted that her creations were vital to the Revolutionary era. According to Amanda Spies-Gans of Journal18, Tussaud’s figures were regarded as portraits and lifelike representations of individuals.
She reportedly created the severed heads of people executed during the Revolutionary era in France. By this time, she was already a well-known figure in the industry. Tussaud trained under Philippe Curtius, an anatomical modeler.
Tussaud played an essential role during the Revolution. According to Spies-Gans, she modeled various death masks, such as those of Robespierre, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette. The decapitated heads she created were displayed in the Salon de Cire of Philippe. These corpses were reportedly brought to her by the National Convention.
During the 19th century, Tussaud’s teacher passed away, and she was supporting her two sons and a careless husband. She was looking for her fortune in England. According to Richard Cavendish of History Today, Tussaud did not speak English. During this period, she exhibited her wax sculptures in various areas, such as Scotland, Ireland, and England.
In 1835, Tussaud opened a museum in London. In his report, Richard Cavendish states that the Duke of Wellington visited her establishment and viewed Napoleon and the other figures in her collection. When Queen Victoria was named in 1837, the museum displayed a remarkable display.
Tussaud was right to capitalize on the public’s thirst for information during a time marked by political upheaval and the Napoleonic Wars. In addition to politics, her establishment also offered a variety of subjects. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Tussaud’s museum is relevant and historical and features both infamous and famous figures. The notorious and the well-known are also segregated in the “Chamber of Horrors,” named after a contributor to Punch in 1845. This has since been a resounding success, and various museums that bear her name still exist worldwide.