Ludwig Van Beethoven Death Mask

Click Photo to Enlarge

Ludwig Van Beethoven (December 16?, 1770 – March 26, 1827), was a German pianist and composer, and one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time. His cause of death, during a thunderstorm, has been widely attributed to complications arising from dropsy (abominal swelling caused by the accumulation of fluids), cirrhosis of the liver, and possible lead poisoning.

Joseph Dannhauser, a young artist, took Beethoven's death mask on Mar. 28, two days after the composer's death. This death mask shown is most likely a replica from the original mold.

If you Dugg this article, tell others about it!

Pope Pius IX Death Mask

Click Photo to Enlarge

Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was Pope from June 16, 1846 until his death. His was the longest reign in Church history, lasting 32 years. He defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which decreed that Mary, mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin, and that she she had lived a life completely free of sin.

If you Dugg this article, tell others about it!

Vsevolod Mikhailovich Eikhenbaum (Volin) Death Mask

Click Photo to Enlarge

Vsevolod Mikhailovich Eikhenbaum, also known as Volin, was born on August 11, 1882. During his lifetime, he was recognized as a leading leading Russian anarchist and participated in numerous movements against the Russian government. He was the author of The Unknown Revolution, 1917-1921, which was published posthumously after his 1945 death in Paris, France of incurable tuberculosis.

If you Dugg this article, tell others about it!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Death Mask (Unauthenticated)

Click Photo to Enlarge

It has been recorded that Mozart's death mask was made by Count Josef Deym von Stritetz on December 5, 1791 shortly after Mozart's death on that day. Like all such masks of its time, Mozart's death mask was likely made of gypsum. Neither the original, nor a copy reportedly made for Contstanze Mozart survives. The death mask in this photograph is reported to be an unauthenticated bronze copy which was discovered in 1947. It is on display within Mozart's home in Vienna, Austria.

If you Dugg this article, tell others about it!