Composer and musical savant, Johann Sebastian Bach is one of those magical music men whose legacy continues to this day. Born in Germany in 1685, he was raised in a family with a musical pedigree. A wonderful musician, Bach has always been remembered as one of history’s great composers. A result of the “Golden Age” of music, he is nestled well within the Baroque period.
Known for his compositions Art of Fugue, the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations among other pieces, in the classical world, he is a treasured composer. Prodigious with the organ and nearly any musical instrument he touched, Bach began writing music for the church. In 1721 he completed writing his renowned Brandenburg Concertos, music that defined the period.
Maximilien de Robespierre: The Accomplished
Despite a short reign as head of state of France during the late 1700s, Maximilien de Robespierre is one of the best known and most influential figures, due to his association with the French Revolution. An accomplished lawyer and politician, he was an outspoken advocate for the right to petition. He campaigned for the abolition of both celibacy AND slavery in the French colonies.
He helped establish the feared Committee for Public Safety after King Louis XVI and his cake-enthusiast wife Queen Marie Antoinette was executed by the famous guillotine! A brutal regime, Robespierre was behind who was, and who wasn’t executed – by the same method as the former King and Queen – yeah, the guillotine. It was also a time of great religious persecution – he tried to make the French national religion “The Cult of the Supreme Being.”
Just The Tip of The Robespierre?
Clearly, the myth behind the man was so great that it intrigued forensic pathologist Philippe Charlier, and led him to join forces with facial reconstruction specialist Philippe Froesch to re-create the face of the mad French statesman. The pair used his actual death mask to help to construct the image that we see today. Now Robespierre’s actual responsibility for what occurred in France during that pivotal time is a hotly debated topic among historians.
Some believe he was the “incarnation of Terror” whereas others see him as more of an ideologist, who brought democracy to France. Following the massive amount of executions held during the French Revolution, even Robespierre came under scrutiny. He found out what it was like to experience the guillotine. Here we see Philippe Froesch (French head of Visualforensic) presenting the reconstruction of the formidable Frenchman.
A Face of Music
Now Bach, sadly, was buried in an unmarked grave when he passed away, which meant his remains were almost nearly lost to the annals of history. 150 years after his burial, the church where Bach was supposedly buried, was desperately in need of repair. Theologians and music historians quickly thought to try and find Bach amidst the renovations and exhumed a number of graves.
One of which, they believed to contain the body of the famed composer. Now that’s slightly creepy but, there is a certain… harmony in it all! Luckily for us, we don't need Bach's actual remains exhumed to get a glimpse of what the ionic composer may have looked like. Just head to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Berlin to see this masterful recreation. He may not have an angel face, but he sure produced some heavenly music!
Saint Nicholas
Also known as Nicholas of Bari, this old Christian bishop was a real giver. It's no secret that Coca-Cola based an entire campaign on him that would later become the symbol of Christmas. Yes, Santa Claus was modeled on Saint Nicholas, and truth be told, the red and white burly 'Father Christmas' doesn't look that different from the original guy.
He was also famous for giving gifts to the people and during his lifetime, it is said that a series of miracles and wonderment occurred. There are many paintings of St, Nicholas. In many of them, he dons the iconic red and white robe, and of course, he has a big white beard.