Eadweard Muybridge
Eccentric Inventor of the Moving Image
Edward James Muggeridge (aka Eadweard Muygridge and later Eadweard Muybridge) was born April 9, 1830, the second of four sons, in Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, England to John Muggeridge (1797 - 1843) and Susanna Smith Muggeridge (1807 - 1870 or 1874 depending on the source) .
Both his mother's family and his father were successful merchants, and apparently comfortable financially. Despite his father's death when he was 13, he was able, at the age of 22, to emigrate to America.
The young man, known as eccentric even in his youth, was apparently entranced by a memorial to the kings of England in Kingston that listed two of the kings as "Eadweard".
Soon after arriving in United States he changed his first name to Eadweard and his last name to Muygridge. The "Muy" in his last name was speculated by one writer to be a Spanish affectation. Famous author Jorges Luis Borges, however, attritutes "Muy" to his father's occupation as a "cornchandler" since the term had once been used as a 'dry measure of grain". (From his lengthy article, 'Eadweard Muybridge: Fragments of a Tesseract' )
Both his mother's family and his father were successful merchants, and apparently comfortable financially. Despite his father's death when he was 13, he was able, at the age of 22, to emigrate to America.
The young man, known as eccentric even in his youth, was apparently entranced by a memorial to the kings of England in Kingston that listed two of the kings as "Eadweard".
Soon after arriving in United States he changed his first name to Eadweard and his last name to Muygridge. The "Muy" in his last name was speculated by one writer to be a Spanish affectation. Famous author Jorges Luis Borges, however, attritutes "Muy" to his father's occupation as a "cornchandler" since the term had once been used as a 'dry measure of grain". (From his lengthy article, 'Eadweard Muybridge: Fragments of a Tesseract' )
From Book Seller To Landscape Photographer
"Upon his arrival in New York, Muygridge (as he was then known) secured employment as a commission merchant for the London Printing and Publishing Company."[On-line Archive of California from the Bancroft Library]
While there he met Silas T. Selleck who introduced him to the Daguerrotype, and wetted his interest in photography. Muygridge followed him to San Francisco. In 1855 he opened a bookstore at 113 Montogomery Street where his youngest brother, Thomas, joined him. This was California Gold Rush season, and the shop was successfully patronized by the artistic crowd, and the 'bohemian' wanna-be's as he helped outfit their libraries.
In July of 1860 he left by stage coach for New York when tragedy struck during a coach accident in which he received serious head injuries. His sense of smell and taste were said to affected, and, some said, his personality changed so that he became unpredictable and irritable.
As a result he left later that year for England. With the beauty of California in his mind, he studied photography art, and learned the cumbersome craft of Collodion Wet Plate.
While there he met Silas T. Selleck who introduced him to the Daguerrotype, and wetted his interest in photography. Muygridge followed him to San Francisco. In 1855 he opened a bookstore at 113 Montogomery Street where his youngest brother, Thomas, joined him. This was California Gold Rush season, and the shop was successfully patronized by the artistic crowd, and the 'bohemian' wanna-be's as he helped outfit their libraries.
In July of 1860 he left by stage coach for New York when tragedy struck during a coach accident in which he received serious head injuries. His sense of smell and taste were said to affected, and, some said, his personality changed so that he became unpredictable and irritable.
As a result he left later that year for England. With the beauty of California in his mind, he studied photography art, and learned the cumbersome craft of Collodion Wet Plate.
In 1866 he returned to San Francisco full of photographic enthusiasm. In his chronology entitled Eadweard Muybridge, Stephen Herbert says that he apparently joined "Silas Selleck at the cosmoplitan Gallery of Photographic Art, 415 Montgomery St.... The next year he began to work for the U.S. War Department making photographic surveys for Thomas Houseworth. He spent almost six months at Yosemeti, and took award winning landscape images that are still considered by many to be breath-taking.
He ammended his name to Eadweard Muybridge, but photographed under the pseudodom, "Helios", called himself a "photographic artist", dressed the part with "the broad-brimmed hat and velvet cape of continental poets and painters."[Jorge Luis Borges, 'Eadweard Muybridge....']
He produced 2000 photographs of the west from the late 1860s through the early 1870s which encapsuled his work as director of Photographic Surveys for the United States.
The photographic gallery of Bradley & Rulofson catalogued and made his work available to the public which included lighthouses, views of San Francisco, Alaskan views, Yosemeti and more.
He ammended his name to Eadweard Muybridge, but photographed under the pseudodom, "Helios", called himself a "photographic artist", dressed the part with "the broad-brimmed hat and velvet cape of continental poets and painters."[Jorge Luis Borges, 'Eadweard Muybridge....']
He produced 2000 photographs of the west from the late 1860s through the early 1870s which encapsuled his work as director of Photographic Surveys for the United States.
The photographic gallery of Bradley & Rulofson catalogued and made his work available to the public which included lighthouses, views of San Francisco, Alaskan views, Yosemeti and more.
Although the many thousands of Native American photos by Edward Curtis represented a far more extensive collection, Eadweard Muybridge was certainly Curtis' predecessor in recording the quickly disappearing culture of Native Americans. "Even by today's standard his photographs are remarkable for their clarity and composition and show an artist's appreciation of natural scenery and an eye for dramatic effect." (quote from previous Muybridge exhibition at the Kingston Museum, UK)
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1872 - Image of Occident in Motion!
The post Civil War years of the 1870s were a time of innovation and creation: Alexander Graham Bell (telephone 1876), Thomas Edison(phonograph 1877), Louisa May Alcott(author 'Little women')are a small sampling of that decade.
Horse racing was popular from the East Coast (Belmont, NY; Pimlico, Baltimore, Maryland) inland to the Kentucky Derby to Sacramento, California. A theory was making its rounds that all four feet of a galloping horse were off the ground at the same time.
Leland Stanford, railroad tycoon and former Governor of California entered into that fray. Another rumor said he bet $25,000 on that supposition. Stanford, however, was apparently not known as a gambler making it unlikely that rumor was true. What is known is that Stanford hired Eadweard Muybridge to prove the theory through photographs of his race horse, Occident.
Muybridge's first pictures were not clear enough to prove the point. It took him five years to create and perfect the necessary technology.
He used trip wires and a series of cameras along the horse's path to obtain racing horse photos.
Especially ground-breaking was the photographic revelation that artists' creations of a racing horse with all four legs spread off the ground in a giant "Y" were completely inaccurate. The horse's legs were actually off the ground when they were all together under its body!(See the Eadweard Muybridge photograph above)
Horse racing was popular from the East Coast (Belmont, NY; Pimlico, Baltimore, Maryland) inland to the Kentucky Derby to Sacramento, California. A theory was making its rounds that all four feet of a galloping horse were off the ground at the same time.
Leland Stanford, railroad tycoon and former Governor of California entered into that fray. Another rumor said he bet $25,000 on that supposition. Stanford, however, was apparently not known as a gambler making it unlikely that rumor was true. What is known is that Stanford hired Eadweard Muybridge to prove the theory through photographs of his race horse, Occident.
Muybridge's first pictures were not clear enough to prove the point. It took him five years to create and perfect the necessary technology.
He used trip wires and a series of cameras along the horse's path to obtain racing horse photos.
Especially ground-breaking was the photographic revelation that artists' creations of a racing horse with all four legs spread off the ground in a giant "Y" were completely inaccurate. The horse's legs were actually off the ground when they were all together under its body!(See the Eadweard Muybridge photograph above)
"In 1872, using a high speed shutter and capturing just a silhouette against white sheets, Muybridge was able to secure images of Stanford's horse, Occident, with all four feet off the ground"[National Library of Scotland]. (Unfortunately these original images are no longer available.).
Marriage, Murder & Masterpieces
In 1871 just a year prior to meeting Stanford, Eadweard married the much younger Flora Shallcross Stone, aka Flora E. Downs, a divorcee (a rare category and unacceptable in that era).
In April of 1874 a son, Floredo Helios Muybridge, was born. However, Eadweard discovered a letter to Flora from a lover, Major Harry Larkyns, and believed him to be the father of the boy.
He confronted the man with the phrase, " Good evening Major. My name is Muybridge and here is the answer to the letter you sent my wife." Without further comment he shot Larkyns.
Eadweard had additional reason to be grateful for his relationship with the multi-millionaire Stanford when he paid for Muybridge's defense. In the ensuing trial "the jury found that the killing was a justifiable homicide under 'unwritten law'" on February 6, 1875! [Stephen Herbert, Muybridge Chronology - Follow link under Yosemeti photo]
In April of 1874 a son, Floredo Helios Muybridge, was born. However, Eadweard discovered a letter to Flora from a lover, Major Harry Larkyns, and believed him to be the father of the boy.
He confronted the man with the phrase, " Good evening Major. My name is Muybridge and here is the answer to the letter you sent my wife." Without further comment he shot Larkyns.
Eadweard had additional reason to be grateful for his relationship with the multi-millionaire Stanford when he paid for Muybridge's defense. In the ensuing trial "the jury found that the killing was a justifiable homicide under 'unwritten law'" on February 6, 1875! [Stephen Herbert, Muybridge Chronology - Follow link under Yosemeti photo]
Eadweard Muybridge left for Panama almost as soon as the trial was over traveling as Eduardo Santiago Muybridge. While he was away his wife, Flora, died. He remained in Central America for 8 months, arriving back in San Francisco on November 27, 1875.
On January 7, 1876 his slides of Panama, Alaska and Yosemite were projected for the San Francisco Photographic Art Society. Continuing to believe Floredo was not his, in September he placed Floredo in an orphanage. Other exhibits of his traveling photos followed over the next several years. After his return from Central America and until 1891, he continued to travel widely to lecture on motion photography and demonstrate how to freeze action. He spoke at diverse venues including (but there were others)the Cercle del'Union Artistique, Paris, France; the Royal institution, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Savage Club, the Society of Arts, the Birmingham Natural History & Microscopical Society, and South Kensington Museum in England |
in New York state he was invited to the Union League Club, the American Institute, the Turf Club of New York City, the National Academy of Design and Cooper Union;
in Massachusetts he spoke at New Bedford High School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston's Union Hall;
in Pennsylvania he presented at the Academy of the Fine Arts, the Franklin Institute, Association Hall, and the Scientific Society at the University of Pennsylvania;
in Ireland he addressed the Dublin YMCA, the Royal Dublin Society, the Glasgow Philosophical Society, the Photographic Society of Ireland as well as lecturing in Scotland; and finally Italy and Switzerland and then Berlin and Munich in Germany.
in Massachusetts he spoke at New Bedford High School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston's Union Hall;
in Pennsylvania he presented at the Academy of the Fine Arts, the Franklin Institute, Association Hall, and the Scientific Society at the University of Pennsylvania;
in Ireland he addressed the Dublin YMCA, the Royal Dublin Society, the Glasgow Philosophical Society, the Photographic Society of Ireland as well as lecturing in Scotland; and finally Italy and Switzerland and then Berlin and Munich in Germany.
May 5, 1880
Daily Alta California 'nothing was wanting but the clatter of hoofs upon the turf and an occasional breath of steam from the nostrils, to make the spectator believe that he had before him genuine flesh and blood steeds'.
His ground-breaking photographs were published throughout his worldwide travels, and in May, 1881 he published an album, The Attitudes of Animals in Motion.
At the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, he charged admission for a lecture and demonstration of his stop-action zoopraxiscope, a primitive motion-picture machine which recreated movement by displaying individual photographs in rapid succession. As a result Zoopraxographical Hall, which was built specifially for his presentation, became the first commercial movie theater.
In 1884 Eadweard Muybirdge was appointed as supervisor of photography at the University of Pensylvania. From that time through January, 1886 he produced approximately 100,000 photos of various animal and people in motion.
Photo at Right: English biunial magic lattern slide projector used by Muybridge during his lectures.
His ground-breaking photographs were published throughout his worldwide travels, and in May, 1881 he published an album, The Attitudes of Animals in Motion.
At the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, he charged admission for a lecture and demonstration of his stop-action zoopraxiscope, a primitive motion-picture machine which recreated movement by displaying individual photographs in rapid succession. As a result Zoopraxographical Hall, which was built specifially for his presentation, became the first commercial movie theater.
In 1884 Eadweard Muybirdge was appointed as supervisor of photography at the University of Pensylvania. From that time through January, 1886 he produced approximately 100,000 photos of various animal and people in motion.
Photo at Right: English biunial magic lattern slide projector used by Muybridge during his lectures.
Animal Motion vs The Horse In Motion
In February, 1882 Dr. J.B.D. Stillman's book, The Horse in Motion was published through the sponsorship of Leland Stanford. It included five Eadweard Muybridge photos, but 91 photolithograph drawings depicting other Muybridge photographs.
Muybridge was furious not only at Stanford's patronage of the competing book, but that he recieved virtually no recognition. In April of 1882 he wrote a rebuttal to Nature.
The next day the insult was multiplied when the Royal Society of London read only the title of his paper at their meeting believing him to be only an employee of Stanford once Stillman's book was published.
He decided to take the matter to court, but on February 13, 1885, the court ruled in Stanford's favor.
Unwilling to yield the battle, he began a suit against Stanford as well as Osgood who published Stillman's book.
Muybridge was furious not only at Stanford's patronage of the competing book, but that he recieved virtually no recognition. In April of 1882 he wrote a rebuttal to Nature.
The next day the insult was multiplied when the Royal Society of London read only the title of his paper at their meeting believing him to be only an employee of Stanford once Stillman's book was published.
He decided to take the matter to court, but on February 13, 1885, the court ruled in Stanford's favor.
Unwilling to yield the battle, he began a suit against Stanford as well as Osgood who published Stillman's book.
Final Years
After returning to England in 1895 where he resided in Kingston, his brochure, The Motion of the Horse and other Animals was published in Nature and in Art.
His final lecture was given to the Artists' society in St. Ives, Cornwall.
1899 brought a triumph when Animals in Motion was published by Chapman and Hall of London. The book contained over 1600 half-tone Eadweard Muybridge photographs.
In 1901 The Human Figure in Motion was also published by the same firm.
His last few years were spent gardening, and he was in the process of creating a small pond in the shape of the American Great Lakes when a heart attack ended his life.
Eadweard Muybridge died May 8, 1904 at 2 Liverpool Road, Kingston upon Thames, England at the home of his cousin, Catherine Smith, in the city where he was born. He was 74.
His ashes are interred at Woking, England.
His final lecture was given to the Artists' society in St. Ives, Cornwall.
1899 brought a triumph when Animals in Motion was published by Chapman and Hall of London. The book contained over 1600 half-tone Eadweard Muybridge photographs.
In 1901 The Human Figure in Motion was also published by the same firm.
His last few years were spent gardening, and he was in the process of creating a small pond in the shape of the American Great Lakes when a heart attack ended his life.
Eadweard Muybridge died May 8, 1904 at 2 Liverpool Road, Kingston upon Thames, England at the home of his cousin, Catherine Smith, in the city where he was born. He was 74.
His ashes are interred at Woking, England.
Editor's Comments
Eadweard Muybridge was apparently a genius in developing the 'science' of freeze action photography, and well deserving of accolades due to the foundation he laid for motion pictures.
On the other hand what he had naturally in ability was terribly offset by his character deficiencies. He got away with murder, and horribly neglected an innocent child whom he could have supported and helped. Florado has been said to have been the 'spitting image' of Eadweard. Florado died in 1944 at age 69 after being hit by a car..
Please check out our other Famous Photographers. One of the most famous photographers is Ansel Adams.
On the other hand what he had naturally in ability was terribly offset by his character deficiencies. He got away with murder, and horribly neglected an innocent child whom he could have supported and helped. Florado has been said to have been the 'spitting image' of Eadweard. Florado died in 1944 at age 69 after being hit by a car..
Please check out our other Famous Photographers. One of the most famous photographers is Ansel Adams.
Bits & Pieces
Kingston Museum in Kingston upon Thames, England has a collection of his equipment on display.
Kingston University, London named a building honoring Eadweard Muybridge as one of England's premier photographers.
The University of Pennsylvania received a collection of Muybridge's work for their archives.
Muybridge appeared on a 32 cent USA postage stamp issued February 22, 1996 (scott#3061)
A 1982 opera by Philip glass entitled The Photographer portrays Muybridge's trial for murder and his letters to his wife. Apparently a vidio promotional displayed a number of Muybridge images.
Thom Andersen created a documentary of Muybridge's life entiled, Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographerin 1974.
Thomas Edison patented the first motion picture camera, and he and Muybridge shared their research. Click here for Edison Motion Pictures history.
Kingston University, London named a building honoring Eadweard Muybridge as one of England's premier photographers.
The University of Pennsylvania received a collection of Muybridge's work for their archives.
Muybridge appeared on a 32 cent USA postage stamp issued February 22, 1996 (scott#3061)
A 1982 opera by Philip glass entitled The Photographer portrays Muybridge's trial for murder and his letters to his wife. Apparently a vidio promotional displayed a number of Muybridge images.
Thom Andersen created a documentary of Muybridge's life entiled, Eadweard Muybridge, Zoopraxographerin 1974.
Thomas Edison patented the first motion picture camera, and he and Muybridge shared their research. Click here for Edison Motion Pictures history.