The death mask, a curious memento of the dead

The works of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had a profound influence on modern intellectual history. Notable works include 'The Antichrist,' published in 1895, and 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' (1883–1885). Richard Strauss' famous 1896 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' was inspired by the book, and became well known after its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

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John Keats (1795–1821) -

'Ode to a Nightingale,' 'Sleep and Poetry,' and the celebrated sonnet 'On First Looking into Chapman's Homer' number just some of the famous works penned by English romantic poet John Keats.

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Michael Collins (1890–1922) -

Sinn Fein leader and Commander-In-Chief of the Irish Free State Army, Michael Collins was shot and killed in an ambush by anti-Anglo-Irish Treaty forces on August 22, 1922.

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Eva Perón (1919–1952) -

The First Lady of Argentina, better known as Evita, was the wife of Argentine President Juan Perón (1895–1974).

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Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) -

One of the 20th century's most significant figures, Stalin was also one of the most brutal dictators of the modern age.

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Enver Hoxha (1908–1985) -

Communist revolutionary and statesman Enver Hoxha ruled Albania from 1941 until his death in 1985.

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Rubén Darío (1867–1916) -

Influential Nicaraguan poet, journalist, and diplomat Rubén Darío initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo (modernism).

Sources (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) (FBI) (History) (uDiscover Music) (Tchaikovsky Research) (JRank)

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Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) -

Widely regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians and most influential scientists of all time, Sir Isaac Newton is celebrated for having formulated the theory of universal gravity.

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Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) -

Military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 and again in 1815. He died in exile on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.

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John Dillinger (1903–1934) -

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William Shakespeare (1564–1616) -

Renowned English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare is considered the greatest dramatist in history.

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Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) -

Oliver Cromwell led armies of the Parliament of England against King Charles I during the English Civil War and was one of the signatories of the vanquished monarch's death warrant.

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Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) -

One of the leading composers and conductors of his generation, Austro-Bohemian-born Gustav Mahler is especially remembered for 'Symphony No. 2, Resurrection' (1895).

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Thomas Mann (1875–1955) -

German novelist and short story writer Thomas Mann is remembered for the novella 'Death in Venice' (1912) and 'Doctor Faustus' (1947), among many other influential and highly symbolic works.

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Franz List (1811–1886) -

The 'Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 1-6' number some of the finest works composed by Franz List, who was a virtuoso pianist.

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Horatio Nelson (1758–1805) -

Lord Nelson was struck by a bullet fired by a French sharpshooter during the Battle of Trafalgar. He died on the quarterdeck of his flagship, HMS Victory.

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Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) -

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Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587) -

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James Joyce (1882–1941) -

A standout among the works of Irish novelist James Joyce is 'Ulysses' (1922), regarded as one of the most important works of modernist literature.

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George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) -

German-born composer George Frideric Handel achieved huge success with 'Messiah' (1742). He is buried at Westminster Abbey in London.

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) -

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Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) -

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Lorenzo de' Medici (1449–1492) -

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Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) -

Friedrich Schiller was a German playwright, poet, and philosopher whose notable works include the play 'William Tell' (1804).

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Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) -

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Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) -

Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy' (1320) is considered to be the pre-eminent work in Italian literature, and recognized as one of the greatest works of world literature.

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Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) -

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John Keats (1795–1821) -

'Ode to a Nightingale,' 'Sleep and Poetry,' and the celebrated sonnet 'On First Looking into Chapman's Homer' number just some of the famous works penned by English romantic poet John Keats.

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Michael Collins (1890–1922) -

Sinn Fein leader and Commander-In-Chief of the Irish Free State Army, Michael Collins was shot and killed in an ambush by anti-Anglo-Irish Treaty forces on August 22, 1922.

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Eva Perón (1919–1952) -

The First Lady of Argentina, better known as Evita, was the wife of Argentine President Juan Perón (1895–1974).

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Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) -

One of the 20th century's most significant figures, Stalin was also one of the most brutal dictators of the modern age.

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Enver Hoxha (1908–1985) -

Communist revolutionary and statesman Enver Hoxha ruled Albania from 1941 until his death in 1985.

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Rubén Darío (1867–1916) -

Influential Nicaraguan poet, journalist, and diplomat Rubén Darío initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo (modernism).

Sources (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) (FBI) (History) (uDiscover Music) (Tchaikovsky Research) (JRank)

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The death mask, a curious memento of the dead

How some famous people faced their own mortality

01/04/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Mortality

The preparation and creation of death masks can be traced back to ancient Egypt, when funeral masks were made as part of the mummification process, most famously for King Tutankhamun. But it wasn't until the Middle Ages that death masks began appearing not so much as a ritual element, but as a way of serving as a model for sculptors in creating statues and busts of the deceased person. By the 1800s, death masks had become valued for themselves, and it was quite fashionable for departed individuals of note such as scientists, composers, and writers to be revered in such a way, a final viewing of the deceased created for posterity.

Click through for a final look at some of history's most famous—and infamous—death mask recipients.