Copies of his life and death masks are precious collectables

Early in the 19th century, taking life masks of people was a widespread practice that was strongly supported by the historical painter Benjamin Robert Haydon. John Keats' plaster life mask was taken by Haydon himself in 1816, five years before the poet passed away. This painting is on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London and was commissioned for the poet John Hamilton Reynolds. It is known that a flawed matrix of Keats's Life Mask, which is also attributed to Haydon, existed and was used to make duplicates in the middle of the 19th century.

Another plaster cast was made in Rome to preserve Keats' likeness after his passing on February 23, 1821. From this initial mold, two death masks were later produced. While one went to Keats's publisher, John Taylor, the other was preserved by his close friend and fellow artist Joseph Severn. The two original masks are now gone, however Charles Smith and Sons cast the mask multiple times between 1898 and 1905. There are currently just nine Smith casts thought to exist, according to Christie's, an auction house. Keats's enduring appeal more than 200 years after his passing is evidenced by the rare duplicates created by ancient cast makers like Smith that are now valued collectibles.