7. Nelson’s Death Mask: A Curious Legacy
After Admiral Horatio Nelson’s death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, a plaster life mask was created to preserve his likeness. This mask, one of three known examples, was made during his visit to Vienna in 1800, when he permitted sculptor Franz Thaller to take a cast of his face. The mask features Nelson with his eyes open and hair parted in the center, reflecting his appearance at that time. It is now part of the National Maritime Museum’s collection (rmg.co.uk).
