Marie Tussaud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie Tussaud
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Madame Tussaud "at the age of 42, when she left France for England". Portrait study by John Theodore Tussaud.
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| Born |
Anna Maria Grosholtz
1 December 1761 |
| Died | 16 April 1850 (aged 88) London, England
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| Nationality | French |
| Known for | Wax modelling |
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Notable work
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Madame Tussauds |
| Spouse(s) |
François Tussaud
(m. 1795) |
Anna Maria "Marie" Tussaud (French pronunciation: [maʁi tyso]; born Grosholtz; 1 December 1761 – 16 April 1850) was a famous French artist. She was known for her amazing wax sculptures. She also founded Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax museum in London.
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Who Was Marie Tussaud?
Marie Tussaud was born on December 1, 1761, in Strasbourg, France. Her father died in a war just two months before she was born. When Marie was six, her mother, Anne-Marie Walder, moved them to Bern, Switzerland.
They lived with a local doctor named Philippe Curtius. Marie called him her uncle. Dr. Curtius was very good at making models from wax. At first, he used wax to show parts of the human body for his medical work. But later, he started making wax portraits of people.
In 1765, Dr. Curtius moved to Paris to open a wax portrait business. He made a wax figure of King Louis XV's girlfriend, Madame du Barry. This is the oldest wax figure still on display today! A year later, Marie and her mother joined him in Paris.
The first public show of Curtius's waxworks opened in 1770. It was very popular. In 1776, the show moved to a famous palace called the Palais Royal. Later, in 1782, Curtius opened another exhibit. It was called the Cavern of the Grand Thieves. This show was an early version of what would become Madame Tussaud's famous Chamber of Horrors.
Becoming a Wax Artist
Dr. Curtius taught Marie the special art of wax modeling. She was a natural and quickly became a skilled artist herself. In 1777, she made her very first wax figure. It was of the famous writer Voltaire.
From 1780 until 1789, Marie created many well-known wax portraits. These included figures of important people like the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin. During this time, Marie said she was hired to teach wax modeling to Princess Élisabeth. She was the sister of King Louis XVI.
Marie claimed she lived at the Palace of Versailles for nine years. She said she heard many private talks between the royal family. However, there is no proof from that time to confirm her stories.
The French Revolution and Its Impact
The French Revolution began in 1789. On July 12, wax heads made by Dr. Curtius were carried in a protest march. This happened just two days before the attack on the Bastille prison.
Because Marie was close to the royal family, some people thought she supported them. During a very dangerous time called the Reign of Terror, she was arrested. Her head was shaved, which was often done before people were executed. Marie said she was saved by a man named Collot d'Herbois, who supported Dr. Curtius.
Marie then had a difficult job. She said she was forced to make wax casts of famous people who had been executed during the revolution. These included King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and others.
When Dr. Curtius died in 1794, he left his entire wax collection to Marie. In 1795, she married François Tussaud, an engineer. They had two sons, Joseph and François.
Moving to Great Britain
In 1802, Marie Tussaud traveled to London, England. She brought her wax collection with her. She had been invited to show her work alongside a magic show at the Lyceum Theatre. She didn't make much money at first, so she moved to Edinburgh in 1803.
Because of the wars happening in Europe, Marie could not return to France. So, she traveled all over the British Isles with her wax collection. In 1822, her son François joined her in the family business. Marie never saw her husband again, as he stayed in France.
After 33 years of traveling, Marie opened her first permanent exhibition in 1835. It was located on Baker Street in London. In 1838, she wrote her life story. In 1842, she made a wax self-portrait, which you can still see at the entrance of her museum today. Some of the wax figures Marie herself made are still around.
Marie Tussaud passed away peacefully in London on April 16, 1850. She was 88 years old. There is a special plaque in her memory at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in London.
Marie Tussaud's Legacy
After Marie Tussaud retired, her son François took over the wax exhibition. His son Joseph followed him, and then Joseph's son, John Theodore Tussaud, continued the family business.
Today, Madame Tussaud's wax museum is one of the most popular tourist spots in London. It has also grown to have many locations around the world. You can find Madame Tussauds museums in cities like Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, New York City, Hollywood, and Dubai. The newest museum opened in Prague in 2019. The company that owns Madame Tussauds today is called Merlin Entertainments.
Marie Tussaud has also appeared in popular culture. She was a character in the video game Assassin's Creed Unity, which is set during the French Revolution. She is also a main character in the book Faces of the Dead by Suzanne Weyn. The 2018 novel Little by Edward Carey tells a fictional story of her life and work.
See also
In Spanish: Marie Tussaud para niños
