25 Death Masks Of Historically Important People That Are As Fascinating As They Are Creepy

Death masks — made out of a wax or plaster cast put on a dead person's face — have long been part of human history. Below, morgue workers make a death mask of notorious Depression-era gangster John Dillinger, who died in a shootout with FBI agents on July 22, 1934.

Historical photo of medical professionals attending to a person lying down, surrounded by onlookers
Brandstaetter Images / Getty Images

Here's what Dillinger's finished death mask looked like (note the bullet hole captured under his right eye):

Sculpted plaster face of a person with closed eyes, smooth features, likely a historical or artistic replica
Tim Sloan / AFP via Getty Images

For comparison, here's a photo of Dillinger in life next to his death mask:

Historical photo of a man next to a wax mask. The display is likely related to a historical or criminal context
L: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive, R: Tim Sloan / AFP via Getty Images

Death masks were most popular from the Middle Ages through the middle of the 20th century, but they were also made earlier, including in Ancient Rome. Death masks shouldn't be confused with funeral masks — like the ones in Ancient Egypt — which were not made from casts of the deceased's face but by an artist.

King Tutankhamun's gold and blue striped mask displayed on a red background

Interesting, right? Here are 24 death masks of historically important people:

1.William Shakespeare

A sculpted mask of a man's face with a mustache lies on a cloth backdrop

2.Mary, Queen of Scots

Person looking at a wax head model, face close-up, with gloved hands

The one-time Queen of Scotland was 44 when she was beheaded on Feb. 8, 1587, for her role in a plot to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I, the Queen of England and Ireland.

Danny Lawson - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

3.Sir Isaac Newton

Person in formal attire, white gloves, holding a sculpted face mask. The mask is expressionless, and the person is standing in a subdued light setting

4.Napoleon Bonaparte

Bronze death mask on display, sculpted in a serene facial expression

5.Ludwig van Beethoven

Two sculpted masks displayed side by side: a life mask with open eyes and a death mask with closed eyes; descriptive text above each mask

6.John Keats

Person holding a sculpted human face mask with closed eyes, hands placed gently on the mask's cheeks and forehead

7.Vladimir Lenin

Museum display of historical plaster casts: a face and two hands. Likely part of an exhibit on notable figures or preservation techniques

The Russian revolutionary leader died of a stroke at age 53 on Jan. 21, 1924. Along with the cast of his face, there are also casts of his hands.

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8.Joseph Stalin

Bust of a man with a mustache and closed eyes in a museum display setting

The Soviet Union's brutal dictator died at age 74 on March 5, 1953, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

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9.Frida Kahlo

A bronze sculpture of a serene face with eyes closed, wrapped in a striped cloth, rests on a textured surface

10.Robert E. Lee

A sculpted white plaster death mask of a man's face with closed eyes and a neutral expression

11.William Burke

A person holds a white sculpted head between two display cases containing anatomical hand models

12.Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Sculpted death mask showing a serene face with closed eyes and a detailed beard, used in a parenting article context

The Russian classical composer (who wrote Swan Lake) died at age 53 on Nov. 6, 1893, likely of cholera, although some believe he may have died by suicide.

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13.Frederick Douglass

A detailed sculpture of an elderly man's face with closed eyes, focusing on natural expressions and textures

14.E. E. Cummings

Plaster sculpture of a serene, bald human face with closed eyes against a plain background

The legendary American poet (known for his poems written in lowercase letters) died of a stroke on Sept. 3, 1962 at the age of 67.

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15.James Joyce

A sculpted bust of a man's face, angled upward, showcasing detailed features and closed eyes, possibly a historical or cultural artifact

16.Friedrich Nietzsche

A person observes a bronze bust and framed sketches of a man with a mustache, possibly a historical figure, displayed on a table

17.Anna Pavlova

A historical artifact of a mummified head and arm displayed in a glass case, viewed from the side

The Russian prima ballerina was the star of the Imperial Russian Ballet and toured the world performing. She died of pleurisy on Jan. 23, 1931, at age 49.

In addition to a death mask, a cast of the dancer's leg was also made at the time of her death.

Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild via Getty Images

18.Nikola Tesla

A lifelike sculpture of an adult male head displayed in a museum, showcasing detailed facial features

19.Dante Alighieri

Side profile of a sculpture or mask with detailed features set against a dark background

The Italian poet famous for the Divine Comedy died of malaria on Sept. 14, 1321, at about 56 years of age.

His death mask has been displayed at Palazzo Vecchio (the town hall of Florence, Italy) since 1911.

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20.Franz Liszt

A death mask showing a detailed plaster cast of a serene face with closed eyes and some noticeable imperfections on the surface

The Hungarian classical composer and pianist died at age 74 on July 31, 1886, from pneumonia.

Ullstein Bild / ullstein bild via Getty Images

21.Martin Luther

Bust sculpture with detached hands displayed on a dark background, creating a surreal effect

22.Ishi

A plaster cast of a man's face with closed eyes and a serene expression

23.Oliver Cromwell

A historical plaster death mask of an adult male with eyes closed and a mustache, shown against a dark background

One of the most important figures in British history, Cromwell — military leader and Lord Protector of England — died at 59 on Sept. 3, 1658, likely from sepsis.

Heritage Images / Heritage Images / Getty Images

24.Michael Collins

A plaster death mask rests on a white pillow, displayed in a glass case