Death Mask of Napoleon I

In Napoleon's time it was the custom to make death masks of national leaders. Napoleon's original mask was made just over a day after he died. A mixture of wax and plaster was applied to his face, allowed to harden and then removed. Further copies were made in bronze and plaster. This death mask was cast in 1833 by E Quesnel in Paris, after a mask made by Napoleon's surgeon, Dr Antommarchi. E Quesnel made many casts from Antommarchi’s edition having bought the right to do so from Antommarchi himself.