For the first time an exhibition with wax figures took place in the 18th century in Europe. It could get anyone.
Традиция делать фигуры из воска пришла из Италии.There, rich and famous people loved to order their statues in order to leave a memory for themselves for posterity. Then it came into fashion in England, Germany and France. Began to open various exhibitions and museums. The masters sculpted both the living and the deceased celebrities.
The idea of creating paraffin figures came to Europefrom the ancient east. There, starting from the 16th century, the sorcerers created small figures and used them in their rituals. In ancient Greece, wax images of gods were also made, and in Ancient Rome, a cast was taken from the face of the deceased to carry his image next to the funeral procession.
In Russia, the first paraffin twins appearedthanks to Peter the Great. During his trip to Europe, he really liked the idea of wax figures, and he brought back a copy of his own head. It can be considered the first exhibit. The wax museum in St. Petersburg owes it to the great ruler.
Creating a museum
Петр I, восхищаясь увиденными восковыми фигурами, invited foreign masters to create them. At that time, only wealthy people could afford copies of their own copies. There were no museums for public viewing of wax figures.
In 1988 in St. Petersburg was establishedthe first collection, and developed their own technology of their manufacture. The opening of the exhibition was in July 1990. The main exhibits were figures of royal and famous people of the 18th century. The exhibition was held in Peterhof.
Now a wax museum whose address isknown to every citizen of our second capital, located in the Stroganov Palace on Nevsky Prospect. It is one of the richest (collection exceeds one thousand exhibits) and large exhibition organizations in Europe.
Themes of the museum
At the very entrance to the wax museum inIn St. Petersburg, visitors are met by figures of a security guard in camouflage, a worker and two onlookers. Some people take the exhibits for real people. The museum workers even gave the nickname San Sanych to the workers.
The largest compartment in the museum is representedhistorical figures, starting with the statues and busts of the rulers of ancient times and ending with the figures of current celebrities. The section on world history includes world-famous philosophers, poets, kings, artists. The theme of the biblical story describes the entire plot. The exposition “Myths of old and new” demonstrates fairy-tale and mythical characters, as well as modern works in the style of fantasy. "Kunstkamera" is a copy of people with various physical abnormalities in development. There is also a hall dedicated to the history of torture and executions.
How shapes are created
Wax Museum in St. Petersburg hasown workshop to create exhibits. They are made by real professionals. Creating wax figures is a long and laborious process. It takes at least six months to make one piece. Sculptors, make-up artists, historians, compilers, and other specialists are working to create wax counterparts.
Work always begins with collecting information aboutcharacter What are his gestures, facial expressions, turning heads? After careful analysis, the figure is molded in parts. Then the make-up artist manually creates wrinkles, skin folds, nails, veins and other small details.
To create the eyes are used real dentures,for a beautiful smile - dentures. Apply only natural hair. Each hair is implanted separately hot needle. The work is long. Then the hair is cut and the necessary hairstyle is made. In the same way perform eyebrows, eyelashes.
New technologies in creating shapes
Сейчас музей восковых фигур в Санкт-Петербурге began to produce exhibits of silicone. This technology allows you to keep exhibits outdoors, despite the weather and temperature conditions.
One of the advantages of the museum is to createmoving figures. This is possible thanks to electromechanical drives controlled by microcontrollers. The software allows you to create a "live person effect". Museum exhibits are made in full size, taking into account all the smallest details.
Visitors reviews about the museum
Wax Museum in St. Petersburg does not leaveindifferent anyone. Anyone who has visited it, remembers a fascinating journey through its halls for life. Visitors are happy to take pictures with celebrity figures. The museum is popular with all age groups. It is one of the excursion routes for tourists of the city of St. Petersburg. The wax museum (reviews of which, as a rule, are full of delight) is recommended for visitors and they note that no one can remain indifferent, looking at the huge and interesting collection of characters collected in it.
