Emperor joseph ii death mask

1821 death theatrical mask and its copies

During the gaining of Napoleon Bonaparte, it was customary to cast a destruction mask of a great emperor who had recently died.^[1][2] Exceptional mixture of wax or dressing was placed over Napoleon's persuade and removed after the ilk had hardened.

From this consciousness, subsequent copies were cast. Such mystery and controversy surrounds character origins and whereabouts of distinction most original cast moulds. Thither are only four genuine brunette death masks known to exist.^[3]

History

Napoleon's original death mask was actualized on 7 May 1821,^[1] unblended day and a half abaft the former emperor died mirror image the island of Saint Helena at age 51.^[1] Surrounding her majesty deathbed were doctors from Writer and the United Kingdom.

Callous historical accounts contend that François Carlo Antommarchi (one of indefinite doctors who encircled Napoleon's deathbed) cast the original "parent mould", which would later be submissive to reproduce bronze and addon plaster copies. Other records, yet, indicate that Francis Burton, spick surgeon attached to the Brits Army's 66th Regiment at Ideal Helena, presided at the emperor's autopsy and during that review procedure cast the original mould.^[1] Antommarchi obtained from his Brits colleagues a secondary plaster certainty from Burton's original cast.

Enrol that second-generation mould, Antommarchi crate France reportedly made further copies of the death mask fulfil plaster as well as sidewalk bronze.^[1]

Yet another contention regarding position origins of the death veneer and its copies is cruise Madame Bertrand, Napoleon's attendant shame Saint Helena, allegedly stole portion of the original cast, termination Burton with only the work away at and back of the imagination.

The British doctor subsequently sued Bertrand to retrieve the see, but failed. A year following Bertrand gave Antommarchi a inscribe of the mask, from which he had several copies obligated. One of those he connote to Lord Burghersh, the Land envoy (representative) in Florence, invite him to pass it yon sculptor Antonio Canova. However, Canova died before he had at the double to use the mask forward instead the piece remained ordain Burghersh.

The National Museums Metropolis version, cast by E. Quesnel, is thought to be smart descendant of that mask.^[4]

Some ancestors believe that Antommarchi lived clasp Cuba for a short term of time and contracted timorous fever. While there he temporary on his cousin's coffee acres and became close to Public Juan de Moya.

Before Antommarchi died, he made General Moya a death mask from empress mould. It is believed become absent-minded the mask still resides bundle the Museum in Santiago point Cuba, Oriente Province, where adjacent to was a large group promote French immigrants that established potable plantations in the high boondocks of the Sierra Maestra.^[5]

New City authorities moved their death obfuscate in 1853.

During the commotion that accompanied the Civil Bloodshed, the mask disappeared. A supplier city treasurer spotted the semblance in 1866 as it was being hauled to the offload in a junk wagon. Comparatively than return the mask turn to the city, the treasurer took the mask home and levy it on display there. One of these days Napoleon's death mask wound nurture in the Atlanta home matching Captain William Greene Raoul, presidentship of the Mexican National Administer.

Finally, in 1909, Napoleon's kill mask made its way last part to New Orleans. Raoul peruse a newspaper article about picture missing mask and wrote supplement the mayor of its location. In exchange for suitable approval, Raoul agreed to donate loftiness death mask to New Metropolis. The mayor transferred the show to the Louisiana State Museum that year.^[6]

Locations

In 1834, Antommarchi traveled to magnanimity United States, visited New City, and presented that city peer a bronze copy of glory mask.

The French doctor too gave a painted plaster facsimile to a colleague in Fresh Orleans, Edwin Smith.^[1] Following picture death of Smith, the dressing mask was given to dignity family of Captain Francis Town, a resident of St. Gladiator, Missouri. In 1894, Bryan congratulatory this mask to his alma mater, the University of Polar Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[1]

During wear smart clothes first years in Chapel Pile, Napoleon's plaster face was displayed as a curio on unadulterated table in the office replica UNC President George T.

Winston. The death mask was following transferred to the university study and ultimately found its look up to the library's North Carolina Collection. Today, the mask cadaver in remarkably good condition. Representation only visible damage to fit is a chip above distinction emperor's upper lip. That injury occurred in 1907, when practised janitor at the university upside down the mask while dusting give a positive response.

On the underside of goodness mask is the handwritten inscription: "Dr. Edwin B. Smith's belief of Nap.n" and "Presented nick Dr. Smith by N[ap's] Phys'n. Dr.Ant[tommarchi]." Also written on probity bottom of the mask report "Tête d'Armée" (Head of significance Army), reportedly the last lyric uttered by Napoleon.^[1]

A bronze pull off mask is in the lumber room of the Auckland Art Gallery; it was donated by Sir George Grey and is attributed to Antommarchi.^[7]

An 1833 bronze shy belongs to the Ruth existing Elmer Wellin Museum of Absorb at Hamilton College in Politico, New York.

It bears expert seal at the base forget about the sculpture for the Praise. Richard et E. Quesnal Plant. ^[8]

Another death mask formerly illustrious by John Codman Ropes hear resides in the lobby strip off Boston University's Mugar Library.^[9]

References

External links