Madame Tussauds Museum - touching history and modern realities

The most famous museum of wax figures is located in London, or rather, the main exposition is located in the capital of England , and numerous branches are scattered around the globe. The masterpieces from wax are made over 150 years by twenty professional sculptors. But few know about the founder of the museum - Maria Tussauds, which should be mentioned separately.

Fateful acquaintance

Madame Tussaud (Grosholtz) was born in 1761 in Strasbourg. Her mother got a job with Dr. Curtius after the death of her husband - the girl's father. As it turned out, this meeting will become crucial for the future founder of an unusual museum that has absorbed the secrets of the old doctor's passion. Kurtius was engaged in the creation of anatomically faithful wax models of people. Seeing the girl's outstanding abilities, the doctor shared with her the basics of unusual and unrestricted art.

His first work - the figures of Walter and Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Maria creates in 17 years. Curtius arranges an exhibition of wax works in Paris, whose analogues were not at that time. Figures in full growth, presented to the public, were struck by carefully recreated images.

Revolution and Arrest

During the revolution that began in Paris, Mary is arrested, and she awaits execution in prison. The woman is saved by her ability to create real figures from wax, and after liberation she makes the posthumous masks of Robespierre and the royal family, beheaded during the execution. Returning to the house of Dr. Curtius, Maria learns that the deceased master bequeathed her his collection of wax figures.

The beginning of the history of the most popular museum

Madame Tussaud, who married an engineer, continues to do her favorite thing, and her popularity only grows. Realizing that family life does not work out, Maria leaves with a huge collection to England.

And since 1835 the countdown of the history of one of the most unusual museums in the world begins. Having lived a long life, the greatest sculptor has created many beautifully executed figures, still surprising with the resemblance to real people and the smallest elaborated details.

English Landmark

Located near Trafalgar Square, the Madame Tussauds Museum, whose photo is presented in the article, stores more than a thousand wax works depicting famous personalities of various epochs.

At the entrance of each visitor meets a black-clothed sculpture of a small elderly woman, the mistress of the museum, smiling pleasantly to everyone who came into her possession. Madame Tussauds, a photo with which (and not only with her) can be made for free, has become a true London legend, and exposures, sometimes provoking scandal by conflicting characters, have long been recognized as English sights.

After the death of the mother, the sons of the founder of the museum invented a special method of securing the wax, which allowed the created figures to be kept for a long time, since previously the figures made by hard labor did not live more than three years.

"Living" figures

The exhibits presented in the museum are always relevant and reflect the latest events taking place in the world.

Madame Tussauds, whose photo does not convey a special atmosphere, because many figures do not just look like living, but move around the room and even talk, more than 2.5 million tourists visit the year. Surprisingly, there are no fences in the halls, and everyone can take joint pictures with their favorite character and even embrace.

Popular expositions

Even during the lifetime of Madame Tussaud, the historical figures of Napoleon and his wife, with whom Mary languished in prison, were given two halls. In addition to stunning sculptures, viewers will see the personal belongings of Bonaparte.

And of course, a separate room is dedicated to the royal family, in which wax figures of Elizabeth II, the young princes of the English crown Harry and William, Kate Middleton and the darlings of Britons Princess Diana are exposed.

Ambiguous characters in the museum

For the sake of justice, it must be said that not all Madame Tussauds cause positive emotions. Photos with Hitler, which many tourists make, are perceived by the others as a personal insult. His wax model was repeatedly vandalized, even the viewers, infuriated by hatred of fascism, even ripped off his head, but after restoration, the management of the museum did not consider it necessary to remove the ambiguous character.

Touching History

The wax versions of famous and controversial heroes of different epochs have long ceased to be ordinary entertainment, now it is an excellent source of information, giving a unique opportunity to discern in detail the legendary personalities. And we must pay tribute to Madame Tussauds for the embodiment of the original idea, which enabled contemporaries to touch history.