author
John Theodore Tussaud
1858–1943
Part of the famous Tussaud family, he helped shape Madame Tussauds into one of London’s best-known attractions and later wrote about its remarkable history. His life blended sculpture, showmanship, and a close connection to one of the world’s most unusual museums.
1 Audiobook
The Romance of Madame Tussaud's
by John Theodore Tussaud
About the author
Born in Kensington on May 2, 1858, he was the great-grandson of Marie Tussaud, founder of Madame Tussauds. He trained in modelling and sculpture from a young age and went on to become a British sculptor, manager, and chief artist at the museum, where he played a major role in its development.
Over the course of his career, he was credited with creating a huge number of wax portraits and historical tableaux for the exhibition. He was also known as a photographer, and his long involvement with the family business helped preserve and extend the legacy of Madame Tussauds into the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As an author, he is especially remembered for writing about the museum and its founder, including The Romance of Madame Tussaud's. He died on October 13, 1943, leaving behind a story that links art, popular entertainment, and one of London’s most enduring cultural institutions.