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A death mask is a likeness (typically in wax or plaster cast) of a person's face after their death, usually made by taking a cast or impression from the corpse. Death masks may be mementos of the dead or be used for creation of portraits.
life mask. sculpture. Learn about this topic in these articles: relation to death masks. In death mask. In contrast to death masks, life masks are made from molds taken from living faces. The features of such persons as Henry Clay and James Madison have been preserved in life masks. Read More. use in Egyptian burial rites.
Death Masks and Life Masks. Mask making is an ancient tradition in most cultures. Death masks are casts taken from a cadaver while life masks are casts taken from a living person. These masks are mostly made from wax or plaster using essentially the same technique.
Abraham Lincoln Life Masks. One of the myths surrounding Lincoln is that a death mask was made after his assassination. In fact, Lincoln had two life masks done, five years apart. The first was produced by Leonard Volk in Chicago, Illinois, in April 1860.
Description: On February 11, 1865, about two months before his death, Abraham Lincoln permitted sculptor Clark Mills to make this life mask of his face. This was the second and last life mask made of Lincoln. The strain of the presidency was written on Abraham Lincoln’s face.
Here's a selection of life and death masks from our Collection. Explore the full list.
The Morgan's life mask of Washington is unique and represents the truest likeness of the country's first president. Pierpont Morgan likely acquired the mask in Rome from the son of the American sculptor William Wetmore Story.
