New-York tribune., 1910-06-04
NAP0LEON'S DEATH MASK
A Curious Story as to It's Present
Whereabouts.

Paris correspondence The London Globe.
In his remarkable work on Napoleon.
LORD Rosebery, speaking of DR. Anton1-
march,, who attended the Emperor at ST
Helena, says that he rendered humanity
service which almost effaced all the
lies IN his book--he took a cast of the
features of Napoleon after his death. The
original Of this mask, according to the
Laird OF Dalmeny. is in England But
1t looks as If some doubt were permissi-
bic on the subject. A note recently pub
lIshed In the French papers states that
the mask Of Napoleon 1 is in the posses
sion of the family of Anton1nnarchi. and
that General Niox, governor Of the Hotel
des Invalides, intends to take steps with
the object of inducing the family TO hand
over this historic relic to the Inyalides so
that it may take its place beside the tomb
of Napoleon. If the family of DIR. An
tomnarehi possesses the original mould
OF Napoleon's face, taken after his death
It Is plain that il cannot be in England
The original mask is believed to have re-
nained in the hands Of the Contesse
Bertrand, and after the death of Marshal
Bertrand It became the property of his
daughter, Nine. Thayer. who gave it to
Prince Victor Napoleon. NJ Frederic
the great historian Of Napoleon was
present when the inventory was drawn
up, at the request of the MARQUIS de
Biron, Mime. Thayer's heir. and he be-
lieves himself justified in affirming that
certain characteristics appeared to him
to place it beyond doubt that he had be
fore him the original plaster. But If the
Antomnarchi family is declared to have
the original mask and Lord Rosebery as
serts that the first mould taken Of Ma
poleon's features is in England. whom
are we to believe?
In 1888 DR.. Antommarchi sold by sub
scription copies Of the mask taken at St
T76 in oil Z;
he affirmed that the cast was made bv
himself. The bronze reproductions of this
mask were we'll known. Those of the
first edition, which are now rare, bear
the signature Of the founders. Richard
& Quesnel and a little medal of Ma
poleon, with the words, Subscription
Antornarchi This mould, according to
Lord Rosebery, reproduces the exquisite
beauty of the face, after sickness had
done its work, substituting patience for
passion, and after the supreme and Sc
rene touch of death had restored to the
features the delicacy and regularity of
the youthful years. It is beyond Ques-
tion that there is in this death mask of
Caesar much of the First Consul. While
one looks at this impressive cast, how
ever, question arises: WHY is it that
one only possesses the face and not the
entire head2 NJ. Frederic Mason appears
to have found the key to this problem
At the deathbed of Napoleon there were
no fewer than eight doctors, including
Antommarchi and an English medical
man, DIR Burton, who was also present
at the autopsy. Struck with the ma Iesty
Of the features of the dead Emperor DR.
Burton proposed to the governor to take
mould of the face. The same idea had
occurred to Marshal Bertrand and his
wife, who wished TO Confide the task TO
DR.. Antommarchi He declined at first.
alleging that he had not the necessary
plaster, and when, forty-eight hours
later, il was forthcoming, he declared
according TO DR.. Burton, that it was of
such mediocre quality that he could not
make use of It. The English doctor.
however, being more determined, at
tempted the impossible and to his great
satisfaction. succeeded Nine. Bertrand
then. it is alleged. took possession of the
hoilow mould. promising DR.. Burton that
she would give him proofs as soon as il
was possible to get the plaster When
the doctor returned a few minutes later
to take possession of this mould there
only remained the posterior portion of
the skull, and he took it away with him
From Jamestown. on May %, 1921, he
wrote to the Comtesse Bertrand: Per
nit me to inform you that | have in my
possession the posterior part Of Napo-
Icons skull, without which the beauty
which so strongly marks the character
Of a great man would be Incomplete
not refuse TO send me the mould, and |
herewith renew my solemn promise TO
forward to you. as well as 10 DR.. Antom-
marehi, the best proofs that can be ex-
ecuted IN London. DR.. Burton obtained
no reply and he then brought a COM
plant against his colleague. accusing
him OF OBTAINING the mould OF the mask,
which belonged to him. To his request
for an inquiry the magistrates declared
themselves incompetent, and there the
matter was allowed TO rest, leaving the
front of the Emperors head to DIR. An
tomn1archi. and the back of il TO DR.
Burton On the death C.' the latter the
former returned to Paris and issued by
subscription reproductions in bronze of
the cast taken at St Helena. Great sue
cess attended his operations. Suddenly,
under the pretext that he was sighted
DR.. Antommarchi left France for New
Orleans. where he died in 1898. In 1869
NJ. de Saint-Robert, Consul General of
france at Caracas, received a letter from
the Prince de Ia Tour dAuvergne. bear
ing the heading: "MinistsFe des affaires
etrangeres. Direction politique." The
prince stated that while he was in
france NJ. Jose Antommarchi, brother
or the doctor OF the same name who at
tended Napoleon | ar st. Helena, had
written TO Napoleon Ill, asking him 10
accept an original plaster mask which
ms brother had taken of the face of the
Emperor after his death, and the writer
announced that his majesty would be
very pleased to accept the offer. The