Marie Tussaud, the French wax modeler, created life wonders with wax. Her wax sculptures of famous people across the world are exhibited at the Madame Tussauds wax museum which she set up in London.
The inspiration
Marie Tussaud was born as Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg, France. Her father was a soldier who was killed in the seven year’s War before she was born. Marie’s mother moved to born and became a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curious, a physician who made wax models to demonstrate anatomy.
Later, Dr Curtius began making wax portraits and moved to Paris where he held exhibitions. Marie and her mother joined him in Paris. All the while, little Marie observed the wax models made by her `uncle’ as she called him. She learnt the art of wax modeling from Dr. Curtius and showed remarkable talent.
Marie made wax models of Jea-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin. During the Revolution, she wet looking around for severed heads of aristocrats who had been killed and made wax models of them. Dr. Curtius left his collection of waxworks to Marie after he died.
In 1795, Marie married Francois Tussaud. Te a few years later she wet to London, and established her first permanent exhibition at Baker Street in 1835. Later, in 1884, the exhibition shifted to Marylebone Road, London. Gradually, other famous people were added such as Horatio Nelson, Sir Walter Scott etc. Her much acclaimed work is a self- portrait which is still on display today.
Chamber of horrors
Right from the time it was set up, the main attraction at the Madame Tussauds wax museum has been the chamber of Horrors. It displays some victims of the French Revelation ad figures of murders and criminals.
Casting a spell
Today, tourists all over the world are attracted to Madame Tussauds. Though it was first established in London, there are branches in a number of places such as Amsterdam, New, Hong Kong, Shanghai etc.
The wax figures now include historical figures, royalty, film stars, sports stars and even famous murderers! Don’t miss it if you get a chance.