Madame Tussaud's exhibition, Baker Street, London

Details

Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (London 1793-1864)
Madame Tussaud's exhibition, Baker Street, London
signed 'T H Shepherd del.' (lower left) and inscribed 'Madame Tussaud's exhibition at Baker Street' (lower left, in the margin)
pencil and watercolour heightened with touches of bodycolour and gum arabic, on paper, unframed
7 3/8 x 10 1/8 in. (18.8 x 26 cm.); an unframed drawing of Buckingham Palace and two unframed drawings of military parades, one at Horseguards, by the same hand (4)

Provenance

the first, Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 6 February 1968, lot 71.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Madame Tussaud learnt her craft in Paris under the influence of Dr Philippe Curtius, working first as an art tutor to Louis XVI's sister, and then during the French Revolution making death masks for the aristocracy. She came to Britian in the early 19th century with a travelling exhibition of revolutionary relics and effigies of public figures from the revolution.
In 1835 Madame Tussauds' exhibition established a permanent home in London, where visitors paid sixpence to 'meet' the biggest names of the day. The museum moved to its current home on Marylebone Road in 1884.

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