Death Mask Of Napoleon I

Plaster death mask of Napoleon I, after the mask molded by Antommarchi and/or (?) Burton at Saint Helena on May 7, 1821, and presented to the public in 1833 following a subscription that enabled its bronze casting. France, second half of the 19th century. Plaster with a black patina, very good condition.
Circa 1900.

This cast represents the death mask of Napoleon I (1769–1821), made after the so-called Antommarchi model, named after François Carlo Antommarchi (1780–1838), the Emperor's last physician at Saint Helena. After Napoleon's death on May 5, 1821, at Longwood House, several attempts were made to obtain his mask. The first mold, made in the presence of Dr. Antommarchi, was the subject of several disputes: some fragments were allegedly modeled by Dr. Francis Burton, a British physician attached to the garrison of Saint Helena, before Antommarchi created a complete version intended for distribution after his return to Europe.
The present mask derives from this so-called Antommarchi version, the most famous and widely circulated in the 19th century. It is distinguished by the elongated oval of the face, the serenity of the features, and the slightly open mouth.
This mold became, from the July Monarchy onward, a patriotic relic venerated by Bonapartists, a symbol of the genius and grandeur of France. It was reproduced in plaster, bronze, or marble, and adorned numerous scholarly cabinets and libraries of the 19th century.