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
Have the honor to announce that their entirely new Exhibition,
which has only to be seen to ensure its support and patronage,
justly entitling it to the appellation of the most popular
Collection in the Empire, is NOW OPEN as above mentioned, and
they trust the Public will not form their ideas of it from
anything of a similar description they may have seen in this
Metropolis or elsewhere--as in their peculiar art they stand
alone; a fact acknowledged by those that have made the tour of
Europe. They are induced to state this to guard against the
prejudice excited by a view of inferior Collections. Madame
Tussaud had the honor of being Artist to Her Royal Highness
Madame Elizabeth, was patronized by the late Royal Family of
France, by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York,
twice by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and lately
at the Town Hall, Brighton, by Her Royal Highness the Princess
Augusta, His Royal Highness Prince George, and by nearly the
whole of the Royal Establishment.
Her Royal Highness, with that kindness which has ever
distinguished the Royal Family for the encouragement of the
Fine Arts, honored Madame Tussaud with the following letter:
“Lady Mary Taylor is commanded by Her Royal Highness the
Princess Augusta to acquaint Madame Tussaud with Her Royal
Highness’s approbation of her Exhibition, which is well worthy
of admiration, and the view of which afforded Her Royal
Highness much amusement and gratification.--Pavilion, Brighton,
Feb. 9, 1833.”
The placard goes on to describe the Exhibition as follows:
The Exhibition consists of a great variety of Public
Characters, modelled with the greatest care, and regardless of
expense, among whom will be noticed the original figures of
BURKE and HARE (taken from their faces, to obtain which the
Proprietors went expressly to Scotland); which have excited
intense interest from the peculiar nature of their crimes, and
their approach to life, which renders it difficult to recognize
them from living persons. Also DENNIS COLLINS (taken from life
at the gaol, Reading), in the identical dress he had on when he
made the atrocious attempt on His Majesty’s life at Ascot Heath
Races.
This shows that Madame Tussaud in those days, as her successors do in
these, took the greatest pains to ensure fidelity as regards costume as
well as features.
[Illustration: THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE]
There can be no doubt that Madame Tussaud actually originated the
promenade concerts which have since become so popular a form of musical
entertainment, for the placard goes on to announce that:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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