The first wax exhibition took place in the 18th century in Europe. Anyone could get on it.
The tradition of making wax figures came from Italy. There, rich and famous people loved to order their statues in order to leave a memory for posterity. Then it became fashionable in England, Germany and France. Various exhibitions and museums began to open. Masters sculpted both living and celebrities who passed away.
The idea of creating paraffin figures came to Europe from the ancient east. There, from the 16th century, sorcerers created small figures and used them in their rituals. In ancient Greece, images of the gods were also made of wax, 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 doubles of paraffin appeared thanks to Peter the Great. While traveling in Europe, he really liked the idea with 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 the idea to the great ruler.
Museum Creation
Peter I, admiring the waxworks he saw, 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, the first collection was created in St. Petersburg, and its own production technique was developed. 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 the wax museum, whose address is known to every resident of our second capital, is located in the Stroganov Palace on Nevsky Prospekt. It is one of the richest (the collection exceeds one thousand exhibits) and the largest exhibition organizations in Europe.
Museum Topics
At the very entrance to the wax museum in St. Petersburg, visitors are greeted by figures of a security guard in camouflage, a worker and two onlookers. Some people take exhibits for real people. Museum workers were even given the nickname San Sanych.
The largest compartment in the museum is represented by historical figures, starting with statues and busts of the rulers of ancient times and ending with the figures of current celebrities. A section from world history includes world famous philosophers, poets, kings, artists. The subject of biblical history describes whole stories. The exposition “Myths old and new” shows fairy-tale and mythical characters, as well as modern works in fantasy style. The Kunstkamera presents copies of people with various physical anomalies in development. There is also a hall dedicated to the history of torture and executions.
How shapes are created
The Wax Museum in St. Petersburg has its own workshop for creating exhibits. There are real professionals. Creating wax figures is a long and laborious process. It takes at least six months to produce one figure. Sculptors, make-up artists, historians, postigers and other specialists are working on the creation of doubles from wax.
Work always begins with collecting information about the character. What kind of gestures, facial expressions, head turns are inherent in it? After careful analysis, the figure is cast in parts. Then the make-up artist manually creates wrinkles, folds of skin, nails, veins and other small details.
To create the eyes, real dentures are used, for a beautiful smile - dentures. Only natural hair is used. Each hair is implanted separately with a hot needle. Long work. Then the hair is cut and the necessary hairstyle is done. In the same way, eyebrows, eyelashes are performed.
New technologies in creating shapes
Now the wax museum in St. Petersburg has begun to produce silicone exhibits. This technology allows you to keep exhibits in the open air, despite the weather conditions and temperature conditions.
One of the advantages of the museum is the creation of moving figures. This is possible thanks to electromechanical drives controlled by microcontrollers. The software allows you to create a "living person effect." The 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 leave anyone indifferent. Everyone 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 enthusiasm) are recommended for visiting and note that no one can remain indifferent, looking at the huge and interesting collection of characters collected in it.