Likeness

Media: photography

Number of images: 26

Print size: 16x20 inches

Execution: 2014

PREFACE

In the creative arts, theft is more prevalent than acknowledgment. However, it is impossible for me not to mention the work of my friend and colleague, Daniel Faust, who previously mined and photographed this subject matter prior to that of the photographer, Hiroshi Sugimoto, whose work is more well known.

Most histories of photography concentrate on the chemical or mechanical process of creating a photographic image. However, the "idea" of photography has always been with us. It may not have been called "photography" but it is the desire, consciously and unconsciously, to reproduce reality. In the prehistory of photography, this included three dimensional wax portraits and the death masks of individuals.

Dr. Philippe Curtius in 1765, moved from Bern, Switzerland to Paris, France, to display his wax figures that were used in teaching anatomy. Dr. Curtius also created portraits of the upper classes that were much admired. Being successful in his business, Dr. Curtius in 1767, sent for his housekeeper and her daughter to come join him. Marie, the housekeeper's daughter, entered his practice where Dr. Curtius taught her the art of wax sculpturing. Between 1777 and 1789, Marie created wax portraits of the French royals as well as Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin among others. During French Revolution in 1789, Dr. Curtius and his household, including Marie, were denounced and sentenced to death by guillotine. It was only through the intervention of Jean-Marie Collot d'Herboisa that Dr. Curtius and his household were saved. Following this stay of execution, Marie produced death masks of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Marat, and Robespierre. These likenesses were paraded though the streets of Paris as reminders of their fall from power and the success of the revolution.

In 1802, Marie moved to London where she was sponsored by Paul Philidor, who specialized in magic lanterns and the projections of visual phantasmagoria. In 1835, she finally established her first permanent exhibition space at Baker Street, London. Here, Marie Tussaud began her successful business which is still in existence to this day.

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #1

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #2

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #3

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #4

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #5

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #6

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #7

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #8

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #9

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #10

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #11

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #12

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #13

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #14

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #15

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #16

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #17

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A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #18

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #19

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #20

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #21

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #22

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #23

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #24

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #25

A photograph examining the representation of the human figure in wax

Likeness #26