Marie Tussaud was a French artist known for her wax sculptures. She was born in France in the 18th century. Her Farther, a soldier, was killed in the Seven Years War just two Months before Marie was born. Her mother was a housekeeper for Dr. Phillippe Curtius, who was a physician skilled in wax modeling. Marie Tussauds was a French sculptor known for her wax figures. She was born in France in the 18th century. Her father, who was a soldier, died in the war two months before she was born. And her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philip Curtis, a doctor who made wax figures.
Curtius taught Marie the art of wax modeling. She started to work for him and showed a lot of talent. During the French Revolution, Marie made death masks of royalty and decapitated revolutionaries. When Curtius died in 1794, he left his collection of waxworks to Marie. Curtis taught Marie the art of wax sculpture. She began working for him, showing great talent in this area. During the French Revolution, Marie made wax masks of deceased royalty and executed revolutionaries. When Curtis died in 1794, he bequeathed his collection of wax figures to Marie.
In 1802 Marie Tussaud went to London together with her husband. She traveled with her collection throughout Great Britain and Ireland. She established her first permanent exhibition in Baker Street in Now Madame Tussauds wax museum is one of the one of the major tourist attractions in London. In 1802, Marie Tussauds moved to London with her husband. She traveled throughout the UK and Ireland presenting her collection. The permanent exhibition was first organized in 1835 on Baker Street. Now Madame Tussauds is one of the main tourist attractions in London.
Here you can meet great characters of history and art. Here actors, film stars, pop-singers and sportsmen come face to face with famous politicians. Let us just look. Here you can meet great historical figures and artists. Here actors, movie stars, pop music performers and athletes come face to face with famous politicians. Let's get a look…
Madam Tussaud's Museum
Madam Tussaud's is the most popular waxworks museum in the world. There are wax models of the famous and infamous, both living and dead. You can meet great characters of history and art. There are actors, film stars, pop-singers, criminals, politicians and members of the Royal family here. There is a place where you can see all the celebrities at once.
The museum is located in Marylebone Road, not far from the street which is famous as the home of the first great detective in fiction, Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
There are several halls at Madam Tussaud's: the Grand Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and The Spirit of London exhibition.
The wax figures are extremely realistic. When they look at you, their eyes are sparkling and you feel uncomfortable. Computer-controlled figures (audioanimatronics) are especially popular with the visitors. Their speech and sound are recorded onto CDs and synchronized with the movements.
In the Grand Hall you will find all kinds of celebrities and there is a special place for the Royal family.
Most people agree to be portrayed, but some refuse. Mother Teresa was one of the few who declined, saying her work was important, not her person.
The story of Madam Tussaud
Madam Tussaud (nee Marie Grosholts) was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1761. Her father was killed two months before Marie's birth. It happened during the Seven Years War. So Marie had to live with her uncle, Dr Philippe Curtius, a doctor and a wax modeller. 9-year-old girl helped Dr Curtius to open his wax exhibition in Paris. Marie was very interested in wax figures and very soon she learned to make them herself.
When Marie was 17, she was allowed to model the great figures of the time. Among them were Francois Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin.
The exhibition was so successful that Marie was invited to Versailles to help in the artistic education of King Louis XVI’s sister.
During the “Terror” Marie was imprisoned as a royalist but she managed to escape the guillotine by making death masks from the severed heads of its victims - often those of her friends…
After Dr Curtius' death in 1794, Marie inherited his wax collection. In the following year she married a French engineer, Frangois Tussaud. She gave birth to three children: a daughter, who died, and two sons. Her marriage was not perfect.
In 1802, she took her collection of wax figures to England. She spent the next 33 years traveling all over the British Isles and saw neither France nor her husband again.
Madam Tussaud continued to make wax models until she was 81. She succeeded in business at a time when it was very unusual for a woman.
Great woman died in April 1850, at the age of 89. Her final work was a remarkable self-portrait.
The Chamber of Horrors
The Chamber of Horrors is the eeriest place in the whole museum. Visitors are quieter there than in other places.
The dark cellar is full of “villains and their victims”, as well as the instruments of torture.
Here you can also see Madam Tussaud’s original exhibition of relics from the French Revolution - the death masks of French nobility and the guillotine blade that was used to behead Marie Antoinette…
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Madame Tussauds museum
Madame Tussauds is the most popular wax museum in the world. There are wax models of famous and infamous people, both living and dead. You can meet famous characters from art and history. Here are actors, movie stars, popular singers, criminals, politicians and members of the royal family. This is the place where you can see all the celebrities at once.
The museum is located on Marylebone Road, near the street that is famous as the home of the first great detective in fiction, Sherlock Holmes (by Conan Doyle).
Madame Tussauds has several halls: the Great Hall, the Room of Horrors and the Spirit of London exhibition. Wax figures are very realistic. When they look at you, their eyes sparkle and you feel uncomfortable. Computer-controlled figures (audio animatronics) are especially popular with visitors. Their speech is recorded on CDs and synchronized with movements.
In the Great Hall you will find all the celebrities and there is a special place for the royal family.
Most people agree to have their figure made, but some refuse. Mother Teresa was one of the few who refused, saying it was her job that mattered, not her personality.
History of Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds (née Marie Grosholtz) was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1761. Her father was killed two months before Marie was born. This happened during the Seven Years' War. So Marie had to live with her uncle, Dr. Philip Curtis, a physician and wax fashion designer. 9-year-old girl helped Dr. Curtis at the opening of the exhibition of his wax figures in Paris. Marie became interested in wax figures and very soon learned how to make them herself.
When Marie turned 17, she was allowed to model the great figures of the time. Among them were François Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin.
The exhibition was so successful that Marie was invited to Versailles to help in the art education of the sisters of King Louis XVI.
During the Terror, Marie was imprisoned as one of the royalists (supporters of the monarchical form of state power, monarchists), but she managed to avoid the guillotine by making death masks from the severed heads of victims - many of them were her friends ...
After the death of Dr. Curtis in 1794, Marie inherited his collection of wax figures. The following year, she married a French engineer, François Tussauds. Marie gave birth to three children: a daughter, who died, and two sons. Her marriage was not perfect.
In 1802 she moved her wax collection to England. Marie spent the next 33 years traveling the British Isles and never saw France or her husband again.
Madame Tussauds continued to make wax models until she was 81 years old. She excelled in business at a time when it was very unusual for a woman.
Marie died in April 1850, at the age of 89. Her last work was a wonderful self-portrait.
bullseye. The first animal in Madam Tussaud's
horror room
The Horror Room is the creepiest place in the entire museum. Here, visitors are quieter than in other places. The dark basement is full of "villains and their victims" as well as instruments of torture.
Here you can also see the original exhibition of relics of the French Revolution - the death masks of the French nobility and the guillotine blade with which Marie Antoinette was beheaded ...
Spirit of London
This exhibition is dedicated to the history of London. It covers over 400 years of London's history from Elizabethan times to the present day.
You can visit the Elizabethan Theatre, an old tavern where the great Shakespeare works on Hamlet…
You'll walk through the plague and the Great Fire of London, see St. Paul's Cathedral under construction...
Madame Tussauds museum
Where in the world can you run into Princess Diana, meet David and Victoria Beckham, or look Charlie Chaplin in the eye?
Only at Madame Tussauds, a London landmark that has been drawing crowds since 1835. The closeness to the original and the life-size waxworks of celebrity are a feature of many family vacations in the capital, and having a model of yourself in a museum has become a symbol of success for those looking for a celebrity.
The story began in 1777, when Madame Tussauds learned the art of waxing from Dr. Philip Curtius while working as his housekeeper. While she was living in Paris, Tussaud's early models, which included Voltaire, Rousseau, and Benjamin Franklin, were a great success, but when her exhibition moved to England in 1802, she had to return because of the Franco-English War. The exhibition eventually moved to London and has since become a major attraction.
In 1958, Madame Tussauds added a planetarium to the attractions, which continues to take viewers on a journey among the stars. Today, Madame Tussauds offers a contemporary experience with interactive exhibits designed to make visitors feel like they can be anyone from rock stars to world famous football players. Those who want to test their mettle can explore the Chamber of Horrors, while those who are more adventurous can take a cruise with the Pirates of the Caribbean. Madame Tussauds has a fantasy for everyone.
2a Use the words in brackets (1-10) in the correct form to fill in the gaps. Compare with your partner.
b Listen and check your answers.
3 Read the words in bold. Choose three and explain their meanings.
4 Answer the questions.
Where is Madame Tussauds located?
What will you see there?
When/How did it all start?
Use your answers to give the class a summary of the text.
5 Complete the sentences with the words: famous or popular.
1 Chocolate is very popular among children.
2 David Beckham is a famous English football player.
3 Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous painter, was left-handed.
4 Igor is very popular among his classmates.
English version of the main texts translated above:
Where in the world can you bump into Princess Diana, meet David and Victoria Beckham or gaze into Charlie Chaplin's eyes? Only at Madame Tussauds, the London landmark that's been pulling in the crowds since 1835. Getting up close and personal with life-sized wax models of the famous is a feature of many family holidays to the capital, and having a model of yourself in the museum has become a symbol of success for those who seek celebrity.
The story began in 1777 when Madame Tussaud learned the art of wax modeling from Dr Philippe Curtius while working as his housekeeper. Living in Paris, Tussaud's early models, which included Voltaire, Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin, were a great success, but when her exhibition moved to England in 1802 she was unable to return because of the Franco-English war. Eventually, the exhibition settled in London and it's been a major tourist attraction ever since.
In 1958, Madame Tussauds added to its attractions with a planetarium which continues to take audiences on a voyage among the stars. Today Madame Tussauds offers a state-of-the-art experience with interactive exhibitions designed to give visitors the feeling that they can be anything from rock stars to world-famous footballers. Those who want to test their courage can explore the Chamber of Horrors while the more adventurous can take a cruise with the Pirates of the Caribbean. Madame Tussauds has a fantasy for everyone.
