Backpackers Guide to London
Madame Tussauds
Backpackers' Guide to London's Tourist Information | Backpackers' Guide to London Tourist Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to London's Historical Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to Shopping in London | Backpackers' Guide to Sport in London | Backpackers' Guide to Entertainment in London | Backpackers' Guide to Food in London | Backpackers' Guide to London Museums One of the more famous landmarks in London is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, where hundreds of true-to-life wax replicas of prominent sports, political and entertainment figures are showcased for the public to see and enjoy. The sculptures appear to be so full of life that not a few have actually touched them to see if they were breathing. But who exactly is Madame Tussaud? And how did she acquire the uncanny ability to make wax figures that mimic the real personalities down to the last detail? Born as Marie Grosholtz in 1761, Madame Tussaud gained and honed her talents in wax sculpting by working as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius. Dr. Curtius was a physician by profession, but was known for his prolific talent in making true-to-life wax figures. It was Curtius who trained the young Marie to become an expert wax sculptor. She created her first wax figure in 1778, that of popular socio-political thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Soon after, she made the wax figures Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin. Aside from creating wax figures for prominent people, Marie also ventured into the dark and sinister. Marie scoured for decapitated heads and used them as models to create death masks for some of the most important victims of the French Revolution. When Curtius died in 1794, he left his collection of wax figures to Marie. She brought these figures, along with her own growing collection, with her when she fled to England in 1802. Visitors who want to be star struck will not be disappointed when they see the Superstars and Legends Section. Even the most reserved of individuals find themselves acting like a fan when they see their big screen or sports idols forever immortalized in wax. The Grand Hall, on the other hand, gathers together the figures of royalty and statesmen, from the olden up to the present times. But by far, the most famous collection of Madame Tussauds is the Chamber of Horrors, which carries the death masks that the young Marie made, along with sinister depictions of infamous murderers like Jack the Ripper. Because of the very detailed depictions, the Chamber is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Introduction
History
What To Expect at Madame Tussauds
Ashlee House, 261-265 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8QT, England
Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 9400 Fax: +44 (0)20 7833 9677
