The first exhibition of wax figures organized by Philippe Curtius in 1770 signaled the start of a career that would redefine the portrait industry. Marie Tussaud, born in Strasbourg in 1761, mastered the intricate art of wax modeling under Curtius, eventually establishing a global institution through her dedicated focus on lifelike sculpture and public display.
Early Development in Paris
Moving to Paris to join Curtius, Tussaud began her professional training in his wax portraiture firm. By 1777, she completed her first solo figure, a sculpture of Voltaire. During the 1780s, she crafted portraits of notable figures including Benjamin Franklin and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Her work gained access to the royal court, where she reportedly instructed Princess Élisabeth in wax modeling before the onset of the French Revolution.
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The French Revolution brought significant instability to Tussaud's career. Perceived as a royal sympathizer, she faced arrest during the Reign of Terror and narrowly avoided execution by guillotine. Following her release, she claimed responsibility for creating death masks and body casts of prominent victims of the era, such as Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Maximilien Robespierre, utilizing her skills to document the period's political casualties.
Establishing the British Exhibition
In 1802, Tussaud moved to London alongside her son Joseph to exhibit her collection. The Napoleonic Wars prevented her return to France, forcing her to tour the British Isles for several decades. After years of travel, she secured a permanent venue in 1835 on the upper floor of the Baker Street Bazaar. She continued her artistic output until her death in London on 16 April 1850.
Fast facts
- Born: 1761, Strasbourg, France
- Died: 1850, London
- Primary occupation: Sculptor and handicrafter
- Marriage: François Tussaud, 1795
- Notable work: Madame Tussauds
- First wax figure: Voltaire, 1777
- Permanent exhibition established: 1835
- Burial place: London
Questions readers ask
How did Marie Tussaud arrive in Britain?
She traveled to London in 1802 with her son Joseph to present her collection, remaining there due to the Napoleonic Wars.
What was the significance of the Baker Street Bazaar?
It served as the location for her first permanent exhibition, opened in 1835 after 33 years of touring the British Isles.
Achievements
- Notable work: Madame Tussauds
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