Philippe Curtius

Mary Grossholz was born in Strasbourg in 1761.

She developed her artistic skills under Philippe Curtius, a physician and wax modeler whose exhibitions attracted public interest.

Curtius understood the fascination people had with famous faces.

In an age before photography, television or the internet, a lifelike wax figure offered an unusual opportunity to see a representation of someone whose reputation might otherwise be known only through portraits and descriptions.