French│Empire Collection
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A small private Napoleonic collection in Sydney, Australia
Napoleon
Napoleon's Death Mask
Le masque mortuaire de Napoléon
Le masque mortuaire de Napoléon
Napoleon’s Death Mask
Plaster
Circa 1830
33 x 20cm
Napoleon's original death mask was created on May 7, 1821, just a day and a half after Napoleon had died on the island of St Helena at age 51. During the time of Napoleon, it was customary to cast a death mask or mould of a great leader who had recently died.
A mixture of wax and plaster was carefully placed over Napoleon's face and removed after the form had hardened. From this impression, subsequent copies were cast with this being one of the earlier ones made around 1830. In this early version we see how the original moulding of his face was done in sections rather than one full face mask.
Ever since the original mask was cast controversy has raged as to who was responsible for making it. It has been commonly credited to Dr Antommarchi, Napoleon’s doctor, but another doctor present at the time, Dr Burton, claimed that he had made the original casting and that Antommarchi had stolen it from him. What we do know is that it was Antommarchi who cast a number of copies that were sold by public subscription in the 1830’s.
Plaster
Circa 1830
33 x 20cm
Napoleon's original death mask was created on May 7, 1821, just a day and a half after Napoleon had died on the island of St Helena at age 51. During the time of Napoleon, it was customary to cast a death mask or mould of a great leader who had recently died.
A mixture of wax and plaster was carefully placed over Napoleon's face and removed after the form had hardened. From this impression, subsequent copies were cast with this being one of the earlier ones made around 1830. In this early version we see how the original moulding of his face was done in sections rather than one full face mask.
Ever since the original mask was cast controversy has raged as to who was responsible for making it. It has been commonly credited to Dr Antommarchi, Napoleon’s doctor, but another doctor present at the time, Dr Burton, claimed that he had made the original casting and that Antommarchi had stolen it from him. What we do know is that it was Antommarchi who cast a number of copies that were sold by public subscription in the 1830’s.