The Romance of Madame Tussaud'sTussaud, John Theodore
History
The Romance of Madame Tussaud's
Tussaud, John Theodore
Madame Tussaud and Sons' Exhibition; Tussaud, Marie, 1761-1850; Waxworks
Impression of his head taken immediately after he had been guillotined,
28th July, 1794. One of the impressions done by Madame Tussaud, then a
young girl, by order of the authorities.]
An hour after the head of Robespierre rolled from the lunette Madame
Tussaud, reluctantly obeying a demand that an impression should be taken
of the severed head, set about the shuddering task. The cast therefrom
is now shown in one of our Exhibition rooms containing relics of the
Revolution. Her feelings may be imagined as she sat with the head of the
callous Terrorist confronting her.
Although Madame Tussaud took an impression of the features of Robespierre
directly after his execution, she had taken a portrait of him long before
his fall. He expressed a wish that his figure should be introduced
standing near that of Marat, as also those of Collot d’Herbois and
Rosignol. He proposed that they should send their own clothes in which
the figures might be dressed, to afford additional accuracy. The
likenesses were taken and apparelled as desired.
In those days Madame Tussaud often sat next Robespierre at dinner. She
describes him as always extremely polite and attentive, never omitting
those little acts of courtesy which are expected from a gentleman when
sitting at table with a lady, anticipating her wishes, and taking care
that she should never have to ask for anything. In this particular, says
Madame Tussaud, he differed from Marat, who was so selfishly eager to
supply his own wants that he never troubled himself with the needs of
others.
Robespierre’s conversation was generally animated, sensible, and
agreeable, but his enunciation was not good. There was nothing
particularly remarkable in his conduct, manners, or appearance when in
society. If noticed at all, it could only be as a pleasant, gentlemanly
man of moderate abilities. This was a strong admission for a lady who was
always a Royalist at heart and had been long detained in Paris against
her will.
Her association with the Court of Louis inevitably brought Madame Tussaud
under suspicion of the so-called Committee of Public Safety, and for
a time she was imprisoned with Madame de Beauharnais, who was later
to become the Empress Josephine, whom Napoleon divorced to marry Marie
Louise. The scene is changed, and we see Marie Grosholtz--Curtius having
died about that time--wedded in 1795 to François Tussaud, by whose name
she was henceforth to be known to posterity.
Madame Tussaud, it would appear, made the acquaintance and gained the
favour of Napoleon himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account