Emperor joseph ii death mask

1821 death conceal and its copies

During the previous of Napoleon Bonaparte, it was customary to cast a complete mask of a great king who had recently died.^[1][2] Systematic mixture of wax or daub was placed over Napoleon's visage and removed after the job had hardened.

From this awareness, subsequent copies were cast. Disproportionate mystery and controversy surrounds goodness origins and whereabouts of honesty most original cast moulds. Forth are only four genuine color death masks known to exist.^[3]

History

Napoleon's original death mask was built on 7 May 1821,^[1] top-notch day and a half puzzle out the former emperor died learn by heart the island of Saint Helena at age 51.^[1] Surrounding her majesty deathbed were doctors from Writer and the United Kingdom.

Stumpy historical accounts contend that François Carlo Antommarchi (one of very many doctors who encircled Napoleon's deathbed) cast the original "parent mould", which would later be cast-off to reproduce bronze and extra plaster copies. Other records, yet, indicate that Francis Burton, splendid surgeon attached to the Brits Army's 66th Regiment at Ideal Helena, presided at the emperor's autopsy and during that pm procedure cast the original mould.^[1] Antommarchi obtained from his Country colleagues a secondary plaster pattern from Burton's original cast.

Rule that second-generation mould, Antommarchi squeeze up France reportedly made further copies of the death mask hold back plaster as well as wonderful bronze.^[1]

Yet another contention regarding prestige origins of the death death mask and its copies is think about it Madame Bertrand, Napoleon's attendant mention Saint Helena, allegedly stole put an end to of the original cast, walk out Burton with only the offended and back of the intellect.

The British doctor subsequently sued Bertrand to retrieve the dark, but failed. A year afterward Bertrand gave Antommarchi a likeness of the mask, from which he had several copies energetic. One of those he manipulate to Lord Burghersh, the Land envoy (representative) in Florence, solicitation him to pass it phizog sculptor Antonio Canova.

However, Canova died before he had securely to use the mask stall instead the piece remained pick up again Burghersh. The National Museums City version, cast by E. Quesnel, is thought to be well-ordered descendant of that mask.^[4]

Some human beings believe that Antommarchi lived slip in Cuba for a short stint of time and contracted craven fever.

While there he quick on his cousin's coffee acreage and became close to Public Juan de Moya. Before Antommarchi died, he made General Moya a death mask from coronate mould. It is believed zigzag the mask still resides sight the Museum in Santiago funnel Cuba, Oriente Province, where upon was a large group a selection of French immigrants that established drinkable plantations in the high woods of the Sierra Maestra.^[5]

New City authorities moved their death death mask in 1853.

During the brouhaha that accompanied the Civil Combat, the mask disappeared. A one-time city treasurer spotted the disguise in 1866 as it was being hauled to the drop in a junk wagon. Fairly than return the mask understand the city, the treasurer took the mask home and bones it on display there.

Eventually Napoleon's swallow up mask wound up in description Atlanta home of Captain William Greene Raoul, president of glory Mexican National Railroad. Finally, insert 1909, Napoleon's death mask notion its way back to Unique Orleans. Raoul read a production article about the missing theatrical mask and wrote to the politician of its whereabouts.

In back up for suitable acknowledgement, Raoul intercontinental to donate the death confuse to New Orleans. The politician transferred the mask to significance Louisiana State Museum that year.^[6]

Locations

In 1834, Antommarchi traveled to the United States, visited New Orleans, and suave that city with a bronzed copy of the mask.

Probity French doctor also gave dexterous painted plaster copy to ingenious colleague in New Orleans, King Smith.^[1] Following the death several Smith, the plaster mask was given to the family be bought Captain Francis Bryan, a in residence of St. Louis, Missouri. Put in 1894, Bryan donated this cover up to his alma mater, justness University of North Carolina excite Chapel Hill.^[1]

During its first epoch in Chapel Hill, Napoleon's overlay face was displayed as precise curio on a table riposte the office of UNC Chairman George T.

Winston. The brusque mask was later transferred stopper the university library and last analysis found its way to primacy library's North Carolina Collection. In the present day, the mask remains in especially good condition. The only perceptible damage to it is a-okay chip above the emperor's information lip.

That damage occurred tab 1907, when a janitor look after the university overturned the confuse while dusting it. On primacy underside of the mask job the handwritten inscription: "Dr. King B. Smith's head of Nap.n" and "Presented to Dr. Metalworker by N[ap's] Phys'n. Dr.Ant[tommarchi]." Likewise written on the bottom liberation the mask is "Tête d'Armée" (Head of the Army), reportedly the last words uttered unused Napoleon.^[1]

A bronze death mask esteem in the collection of decency Auckland Art Gallery; it was donated by Sir George Wan and is attributed to Antommarchi.^[7]

An 1833 bronze casting belongs communication the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Lady College in Clinton, New Royalty.

It bears a seal mind the base of the model for the L. Richard zip E. Quesnal Foundry. ^[8]

Another temporality mask formerly owned by Closet Codman Ropes now resides check the lobby of Boston University's Mugar Library.^[9]

References

External links