Philippe Curtius
Encyclopedia
Phillippe Curtius was a Swiss
physician
and wax modeller who taught Marie Tussaud
the art of wax modelling.
Marie Tussaud lived in the home of Philippe Curtius, a doctor in Berne
, for whom her mother acted as housekeeper. Tussaud called him 'Uncle'. Curtius was a physician, and was skilled in wax modelling, which he used to illustrate anatomy. Later, he started to do portraits. Curtius created beautiful anatomical wax models which were admired by the Prince de Conti
. In 1765 Curtius was persuaded to give up his medical career and move to Paris
where he could practice wax modelling as a fine art, starting work to set up a cabinet de cire (wax exhibition). In that year he made a waxwork of Marie Jean du Barry, Louis XV
's mistress. A cast of that mould is the oldest work currently on display. His home was visited by many of the talented men of the day.
Tussaud and her mother joined Curtius and also moved to Paris
. The first exhibition of Curtius' waxworks was shown in 1770, and attracted a lot of people. The exhibition moved to the Palais Royal in 1776. Curtius was admitted a member of the Academy of St-Luc in 1778. He opened a second location on Boulevard du Temple
in 1782, the Caverne des Grands Voleurs, a precursor to the later chamber of horrors.
Curtius taught Tussaud the art of wax modelling. She started to work for him and showed a lot of talent. She created her first wax figure, of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
, in 1778.
When Curtius died in 1794, he left his collection of waxworks to Marie.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and wax modeller who taught Marie Tussaud
Marie Tussaud
Anna Maria Tussaud was an artist known for her wax sculptures and Madame Tussaud's, the wax museum she founded in London.- Biography :...
the art of wax modelling.
Marie Tussaud lived in the home of Philippe Curtius, a doctor in Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, for whom her mother acted as housekeeper. Tussaud called him 'Uncle'. Curtius was a physician, and was skilled in wax modelling, which he used to illustrate anatomy. Later, he started to do portraits. Curtius created beautiful anatomical wax models which were admired by the Prince de Conti
Louis François I de Bourbon, prince de Conti
Louis François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti was a French nobleman, who was the Prince of Conti from 1727 to his death, following his father Louis Armand II. His mother was Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon, a natural granddaughter of Louis XIV...
. In 1765 Curtius was persuaded to give up his medical career and move to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he could practice wax modelling as a fine art, starting work to set up a cabinet de cire (wax exhibition). In that year he made a waxwork of Marie Jean du Barry, Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
's mistress. A cast of that mould is the oldest work currently on display. His home was visited by many of the talented men of the day.
Tussaud and her mother joined Curtius and also moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The first exhibition of Curtius' waxworks was shown in 1770, and attracted a lot of people. The exhibition moved to the Palais Royal in 1776. Curtius was admitted a member of the Academy of St-Luc in 1778. He opened a second location on Boulevard du Temple
Boulevard du Temple
The Boulevard du Temple is a thoroughfare in Paris that separates the 3rd arrondissement from the 11th. It runs from the Place de la République to the Place Pasdeloup, and its name refers to the nearby Knights Templars' Temple where they established their Paris priory.-History:The Boulevard du...
in 1782, the Caverne des Grands Voleurs, a precursor to the later chamber of horrors.
Curtius taught Tussaud the art of wax modelling. She started to work for him and showed a lot of talent. She created her first wax figure, of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.His novel Émile: or, On Education is a treatise...
, in 1778.
When Curtius died in 1794, he left his collection of waxworks to Marie.