Tag Archives: Death Mask

Masking the Dead

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Not necessarily the type of accessory I’d want to wear with a Halloween or Masquerade Ball costume. However macabre this kind of mask may seem, it’s still rather fascinating to learn about.

According to Wikipedia, “A death mask is an image, typically in wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death, often by taking a cast or impression directly from the corpse. It is a primitive, yet most accurate, form of photography without a camera. Death masks may be momentos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits….. The main purpose of the death mask from the Middle Ages until the 19th century was to serve as a model for sculptures in creating statues and busts of the deceased person.”

Even back during the ancient Egyptian times, masks were specifically created to put on the faces of the dead. To the living, it was considered to be very fashionable.

Famous death masks throughout history include:

Napoleon Bonaparte: French Military leader who died May 5, 1821 from a stomach ulcer.

Ludwig van Beethoven: German composer who died March 26, 1827 due to a post-hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver.

Aaron Burr: 3rd U. S. Vice President who served during Thomas Jefferson’s first term. Burr died September 14, 1836 from a stroke.

Abraham Lincoln: 16th President of the United States. Died April 15, 1865. Assassinated by American actor, John Wilkes Booth.

John Dillinger: American gangster who died July 22, 1934. Killed by gunfire during a shootout with federal agents.

Nikola Tesla: Serbian – American engineer, inventor and physicist. Died January 7, 1943 from a coronary thrombosis.

James Dean: American actor who died September 30, 1955 in a car accident.

Here are a few death masks of some pretty twisted individuals who were criminals that died by execution.

Johann Hatschwanz: Executed for murdering his wife by arsenic poisoning.

Johanne Rehn: Decapitated for murdering her daughter.

Carl Gottlob Irmscher. Decapitated for murdering his wife and child.

And I wouldn’t dare leave out the death mask of a very enchanting young woman who’s identity will forever remain unknown, but has intrigued so many with her peaceful beauty. The ever so elegant, L’Inconnue de la Seine, who died more than a century ago, but is now recognized as the serene face of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), Resusci Anne.

L’Inconnue de la Seine, who died more than a century ago, but is now recognized as the serene face of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), Resusci Anne.

Looking at these faces, there’s a macabre sense of immortality. The eternal slumbering expressions that these death masks possess make it seem as if the individuals will wake up at any given moment. They will forever be timeless in their own curious way.

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

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“Spooky Random Fact: #18”

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“Spooky Random Fact: #18”

“The Unknown Woman of the Seine”, or more beautifully known as “L’Inconnue de la Seine”. 

“Who was she?”, you may ask. Well, back in the late 1880s a young woman’s body was pulled out of the Seine River located at the Quai du Louvre in Paris. The local officials theorized that the cause of death was suicide since there was no evidence of foul play. Now here’s where the story gets a little strange. It was alleged that the Paris morgue’s pathologist at the time was so completely awestruck by the young woman’s beauty that he created a death mask of her face. Kinda creepy, right?!

And as if that wasn’t disturbing enough…. Apparently the pathologist wasn’t the only one who was charmed by the vision because a large amount of copies were made of the unknown beauty’s death mask throughout the years. As macabre as it may sound, the copies rapidly made their way in the fashion of Parisian Bohemian society. This mysterious belle has even been the inspiration that has led to the creation of countless literary works.

Did ya know that her beauty was so captivating that it even….. Well, ya gotta read more at L’Inconnue de la Seine 😉

 

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

~ Sheila Renee Parker on YouTube: Sheila Renee Parker

 

 

 

 

Masking the Dead

Posted on by
10

Not necessarily the type of accessory I’d want to wear with a Halloween or Masquerade Ball costume. However macabre this kind of mask may seem, it’s still rather fascinating to learn about.

According to Wikipedia, “A death mask is an image, typically in wax or plaster cast made of a person’s face following death, often by taking a cast or impression directly from the corpse. It is a primitive, yet most accurate, form of photography without a camera. Death masks may be momentos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits….. The main purpose of the death mask from the Middle Ages until the 19th century was to serve as a model for sculptures in creating statues and busts of the deceased person.”

Even back during the ancient Egyptian times, masks were specifically created to put on the faces of the dead. To the living, it was considered to be very fashionable.

 

Famous death masks throughout history include:

Napoleon Bonaparte: French Military leader who died May 5, 1821 from a stomach ulcer.

 

Ludwig van Beethoven: German composer who died March 26, 1827 due to a post-hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver.

 

Aaron Burr: 3rd U. S. Vice President who served during Thomas Jefferson’s first term. Burr died September 14, 1836 from a stroke.

 

Abraham Lincoln: 16th President of the United States. Died April 15, 1865. Assassinated by American actor, John Wilkes Booth.

 

John Dillinger: American gangster who died July 22, 1934. Killed by gunfire during a shootout with federal agents.

 

Nikola Tesla: Serbian – American engineer, inventor and physicist. Died January 7, 1943 from a coronary thrombosis.

 

James Dean: American actor who died September 30, 1955 in a car accident.

 

 

 

Here are a few death masks of some pretty twisted individuals who were criminals that died by execution.

Johann Hatschwanz: Executed for murdering his wife by arsenic poisoning.

 

Johanne Rehn: Decapitated for murdering her daughter.

 

Carl Gottlob Irmscher. Decapitated for murdering his wife and child.

 

 

 

And I wouldn’t dare leave out the death mask of a very enchanting young woman who’s identity will forever remain unknown, but has intrigued so many with her peaceful beauty. The ever so elegant, L’Inconnue de la Seine, who died more than a century ago, but is now recognized as the serene face of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), Resusci Anne.

L’Inconnue de la Seine, who died more than a century ago, but is now recognized as the serene face of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), Resusci Anne. 

 

 

 

Looking at these faces, there’s a macabre sense of immortality. The eternal slumbering expressions that these death masks possess make it seem as if the individuals will wake up at any given moment. They will forever be timeless in their own curious way.

 

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

 

 

L’Inconnue de la Seine

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18

Hmmm… such an enchanting string of words don’t you think? L’Inconnue de la Seine to me looks like the beautiful title of a play, but in reality the English translation is “The Unknown Woman of the Seine”. Sounds intriguing doesn’t it?

“Who was she?”, you may ask. Well, back in the late 1880s a young woman’s body was pulled out of the Seine River located at the Quai du Louvre in Paris. The local officials theorized that the cause of death was suicide since there was no evidence of foul play. Now here’s where the story gets a little strange. It was alleged that the Paris morgue’s pathologist at the time was so completely awestruck by the young woman’s beauty that he created a death mask of her face. Kinda creepy, right?!

And as if that wasn’t disturbing enough…. Apparently the pathologist wasn’t the only one who was charmed by the vision because a large amount of copies were made of the unknown beauty’s death mask throughout the years. As macabre as it may sound, the copies rapidly made their way in the fashion of Parisian Bohemian society. This mysterious belle has even been the inspiration that has led to the creation of countless literary works.

In his book titled, The Savage God, critic Al Alvarez wrote, “I am told that a whole generation of German girls modeled their looks on her.” (All I can say here is, “WOW!” A whole generation, huh? Interesting to know that someone’s beauty was that alluring! She must have been quite the stunner!)

Her beauty was actually considered so captivating that she had become the model of sensuality. She’s also been referred to as L’Inconnue: The Mona Lisa of the Seine, but in current times to millions of people now days, her face is recognized as someone entirely different. To all the amazing people who have learned CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), her face is known as Resusci Anne. That’s right, the calming face on the CPR mannequin is that of L’Inconue de la Seine. Wait, what?! Seriously?? I know, I thought it was really fascinating, too!!

After more than a century’s passed, this magnificent young woman’s appeal continues to remain with us. A poetic sense of immortality for an unknown beauty who still mystifies us even to this day.

 

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html