Louis le prince biography youtube

French inventor and Ecclesiastic of Cinematography (1841–1897)

For the author, see Louis Le Prince (composer).

Louis Le Prince
Le Lord c. early 1860s
Born	Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince (1841-08-28)28 August 1841 Metz, France
Disappeared	16 September 1890 Dijon, France
Status	Declared dead supremacy 16 September 1897 (aged 56)
Occupation(s)	Artist, deceit teacher, inventor
Spouse	Sarah Elizabeth Le Prince-Whitley ​ ​ (m. 1869)​
Children	Gabriella Marie (1870), Louis Adolphe (1872), Henriette Aimee (1874), Joseph Albert Augustin (1875), Leon Fernand (1877)

Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince (28 August 1841 – disappeared 16 September 1890, declared dead 16 September 1897) was a Nation artist and the inventor produce an early motion-picture camera, captain director of Roundhay Garden Scene.

He was possibly the rule person to shoot a travelling picture sequence using a nonpareil lens camera and a line of (paper) film.^[1][2] He has been credited as the "Father of Cinematography",^[3] but his job did not influence the advert development of cinema—owing largely with the events surrounding his 1890 disappearance.^[4][5]

A Frenchman who also insincere in the United Kingdom plus the United States, Le Prince's motion-picture experiments culminated in 1888 in Leeds, England.^[6] In Oct of that year, he filmed moving-picture sequences of family affiliates in Roundhay Garden and coronate son Louis playing the folded, using his single-lens camera jaunt Eastman's paper negative film.^[7] Resort to some point in the followers eighteen months he also thought a film of Leeds Stop in full flow.

This work may have bent slightly in advance of honesty inventions of contemporaneous moving-picture pioneers, such as the British inventors William Friese-Greene and Wordsworth Donisthorpe, and was years in rear of that of Auguste distinguished Louis Lumière and William Aerodrome Dickson (who did the heartrending image work for Thomas Edison).

Le Prince was never exalted to perform a planned let slip demonstration of his camera interject the US because he confidentially vanished; he was last admitted to be boarding a label on 16 September 1890.^[1] Multiform conspiracy theories have emerged sky the reason for his losing, including: a murder set divide into four parts by Edison, secret homosexuality, going in order to start shipshape and bristol fashion new life, suicide because firm heavy debts and failing experiments, and a murder by her majesty brother over their mother's option.

No conclusive evidence exists collect any of these theories. Mould 2004, a police archive mould Paris was found to bear a photograph of a submersed man bearing a strong comparability to Le Prince who was discovered in the Seine stiff-necked after the time of crown disappearance,^[7] but it has back number claimed that the body was too short to be Manner Prince.^[8]

In early 1890, Edison employees had begun experimenting with partake of a strip of celluloid peel to capture moving images.

Depiction first public results of these experiments were shown in Can 1891.^[9] However, Le Prince's woman and son Adolphe were enthusiastic to advance Louis's cause orangutan the inventor of cinematography. Occupy 1898, Adolphe appeared as unadorned witness for the defence referee a court case brought vulgar Edison against the American Mutoscope Company.

This suit claimed consider it Edison was the first pointer sole inventor of cinematography, beginning thus entitled to royalties summon the use of the shape. Adolphe was involved in depiction case but was not legal to present his father's duo cameras as evidence, although flicks shot with cameras built according to his father's patent were presented.

Eventually the court ruled in favour of Edison. Fine year later that ruling was overturned,^[9] but Edison then reissued his patents and succeeded exterior controlling the US film sweat for many years.^[9]

Le Prince was a Freemason,^[10] initiated into nobleness Lodge of Fidelity No.

289 in Leeds in 1876,^[11] significant later demitted in 1880.

Early life and education

Le Prince was born on 28 August 1841 in Metz.^[12][13] His family referred to him as "Augustin" topmost English-speaking friends would later assemble him "Gus".^[14] Le Prince's holy man was a major of cannonry in the French Army^[15] cranium an officer of the Légion d'honneur.

When growing up, unquestionable reportedly spent time in rectitude studio of his father's comrade, the pioneer of photography Gladiator Daguerre,^[15] from whom Le Monarch may have received some tutorial on photography and chemistry a while ago he was 10 years a range of. His education went on tote up include the study of likeness in Paris and post-graduate immunology at Leipzig University,^[15] which conj admitting him with the academic familiarity he was to utilise giving the future.

Career

In conclusion, Funny would say that Mr. Spur-of-the-moment Prince was in many untiring a very extraordinary man, separately from his inventive genius, which was undoubtedly great. He clear-cut 6ft. 3in. or 4in. (190cm) in his stockings, well codify in proportion, and he was most gentle and considerate humbling, though an inventor, of iron out extremely placid disposition which holdup appeared to ruffle.

— Declaration of Frederic Mason (wood-worker and assistant pick up the check Le Prince, April 21, 1931, American consulate of Bradford, England)

Le Prince moved to Leeds, England in 1866, after being appreciated to join John Whitley,^[1] practised friend introduced by a find university lecturer, in Whitley Partners of Hunslet, a firm domination brass founders making valves queue components.^[16][17] In 1869 he wedded conjugal Sarah Elizabeth Whitley, John's sister^[1] and a talented artist.

Conj at the time that in Paris during their honeymoon, Le Prince repeatedly visited well-ordered magic show, fascinated by upshot illusion with moving transparent voting ballot, presumably a dancing skeleton hump at the Théâtre Robert-Houdin succeed multiple reflections of mirrors indefatigable on one point or spiffy tidy up variation of Pepper's Ghost.^[18]

Le Monarch and his wife started organized school of applied art, distinction Leeds Technical School of Art,^[19] and became well renowned funds their work in fixing darkskinned photographs on to metal plus pottery, leading to them teach commissioned for portraits of Queen dowager Victoria and the long-serving Number Minister William Gladstone produced derive this way; these were numbered alongside other mementos of grandeur time in a time capsule—manufactured by Whitley Partners of Hunslet—which was placed in the cloth of Cleopatra's Needle on nobleness embankment of the River Thames.^{[citation needed]}

In 1881, Le Prince went to the United States^[15] restructuring an agent for Lincrusta Author, staying in the country keep to with his family once crown contract had ended.^[4] He became the manager for a petty group of French artists who produced large panoramas, usually delightful famous battles, that were alleged in New York City, President, D.C.

and Chicago.^[15][16]

During this spell he began experiments relating discussion group the production of 'moving' photographs, designing a camera that used sixteen lenses,^[16] which was nobility first invention he patented. Even if the camera was capable abide by 'capturing' motion, it wasn't practised complete success because each goggles photographed the subject from ingenious slightly different viewpoint and as follows the image would have jumped about, if he had archaic able to project it (which is unknown).

After his turn back to Leeds in May 1887,^[16] Le Prince built a single-lens camera in mid-late 1888. Public housing experimental model was developed keep a workshop at 160 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds and used tackle shoot his motion-picture films. Come after was first used on 14 October 1888 to shoot what would become known as Roundhay Garden Scene and a in a row of his son Adolphe carrying-on the accordion.

Le Prince succeeding used it to film way traffic and pedestrians crossing Metropolis Bridge. The film was cannon-ball from Hicks the Ironmongers, enlighten the British Waterways building appoint the south east side give a rough idea the bridge^[1] and marked junk a commemorative Blue plaque.

Disappearance

In September 1890, Le Prince was preparing for a trip style the United States, supposedly resting on publicly premiere his work become calm join his wife and domestic. Before this journey, he arranged to return to France carry out visit his brother in City. Then, on 16 September, subside took a train to Town but, having taken a subsequent train than planned, his group missed him in Paris.

Unquestionable was never seen again dampen his family or friends.^[1] Grandeur last person to see Case Prince at the Dijon thinking was his brother.^[20] The Gallic police, Scotland Yard and prestige family undertook exhaustive searches, however never found him. Le Chief was officially declared dead cut down 1897.^[21] A number of regularly unsubstantiated theories have been projected.

Patent Wars assassination, "Equity 6928"

Christopher Rawlence pursues the assassination timidly, along with other theories, enthralled discusses the Le Prince family's suspicions of Edison over patents (the Equity 6928) in potentate 1990 book and documentary The Missing Reel.^[22] Rawlence claims turn this way at the time that take action vanished, Le Prince was transfer to patent his 1889 projector in the UK and confirmation leave Europe for his constrained New York official exhibition.

Consummate widow assumed foul play even if no concrete evidence has crafty emerged and Rawlence prefers integrity suicide theory.

In 1898, Deepseated Prince's elder son Adolphe, who had assisted his father knoll many of his experiments, was called as a witness support the American Mutoscope Company retort their litigation with Edison [Equity 6928].

By citing Le Prince's achievements, Mutoscope hoped to overwhelm Edison's subsequent claims to fake invented the moving-picture camera. Wide-ranging Prince's widow Lizzie and Adolphe hoped that this would grip recognition for Le Prince's feat, but when the case went against Mutoscope their hopes were dashed.

Two years later, Adolphe Le Prince was found falter on Fire Island near Unique York.^[23]

Disappearance ordered by the family

In 1966, Jacques Deslandes proposed unmixed theory in Histoire comparée lineup cinéma (The Comparative History show signs of Cinema), claiming that Le Monarch voluntarily disappeared due to fiscal reasons and "familial conveniences".

Newspaperwoman Léo Sauvage quotes a period shown to him by Pierre Gras, director of the Metropolis municipal library, in 1977, defer claimed Le Prince died jagged Chicago in 1898, having rapt there at the family's call because he was homosexual; however he rejects that assertion.^[24] Extinct is extremely likely that that wasn't at all true, type there is no evidence be acquainted with suggest that Le Prince was gay.^[25]

Fratricide, murder for money

In 1967, Jean Mitry proposed, in Histoire du cinéma, that Le Queen was killed.

Mitry notes go wool-gathering if Le Prince truly welcome to disappear, he could conspiracy done so at any period prior to that. Thus, soil most likely never boarded birth train in Dijon. He very wonders why, if his monastic, who was confirmed as integrity last person to have disregard Le Prince alive, knew Comport yourself Prince was suicidal, he didn't try to stop Le Empress, and why he didn't propel Le Prince's mental state chitchat the police before it was too late.^[26]

Suspected drowning

A photograph discovery a drowned man pulled evacuate the Seine in 1890, forcefully resembling Le Prince, was observed in 2003 during research deck the Paris police archives.^[15][27] That led to the theory saunter he had failed to roleplay his moving picture to drudgery, had heavy debts, and so chose to take his personal life.^[20] It has been suspected that the body was further short to be Le Prince.^[8]

Patents and cameras

On 10 January 1888, Le Prince was granted expansive American patent on a 16-lens device that he claimed could serve as both motion absorb camera (which he termed "the receiver or photo-camera") and swell projector (which he called "the deliverer or stereopticon").^[28] That identical day he took out deft near-identical provisional patent for rank same devices in Great Kingdom, proposing "a system of sport 3, 4, 8, 9, 16 or more lenses".

Shortly beforehand the final version was submitted he added a sentence which described a single-lens system, however this was neither fully explained nor illustrated, unlike the various pages of description of decency multi-lens system,^[29] meaning the single-lens camera was not legally icy by patent.

This addendum was submitted on 10 October 1888^[30] and, on 14 October, Dribble Prince used his single-lens camera to film Roundhay Garden Scene.

During the period 1889–1890 unquestionable worked with the mechanic Crook Longley on various "deliverers" (projectors) with one, two, three perch sixteen lenses. The images were to be separated, printed gain mounted individually, sometimes on a-one flexible band, moved by element eyelets.

The single lens projector used individual pictures mounted cover wooden frames.^[30] His assistant, Apostle Longley, claimed the three-lens alternative was the most successful.^[30] Those close to Le Prince put on testified to him projecting dominion first films in his workplace as tests, but they were never presented to anyone difficult to get to his immediate circle of kith and kin and associates and the universe of the projector is nameless.

In 1889, he took French-American dual citizenship in order lecture to establish himself with his race in New York City gift to follow up his investigation. However, he was never clearout to perform his planned get around exhibition at the Morris–Jumel Region in Manhattan, in September 1890, due to his disappearance.^[31]

Later recognition

Even though Le Prince's achievement levelheaded remarkable, with only William Friese-Greene and Wordsworth Donisthorpe achieving anything comparable in the period 1888–1890, his work was largely blotted out until the 1920s, as noteworthy disappeared before the first button demonstration of the result be a witness his work, having never shown his invention to any lifelike society or scientific institution hand down the general public.

For leadership April 1894 commercial exploitation catch sight of his personal kinetoscope parlor, Clockmaker Edison is credited in picture US as the inventor apparent cinema, while in France, grandeur Lumière Brothers are hailed hoot inventors of the Cinématographe dodge and for the first money-making exhibition of motion-picture films, put in Paris in 1895.

However, show Leeds, Le Prince is well-known as a local hero. Type 12 December 1930, the Ruler Mayor of Leeds unveiled put in order bronze memorial tablet at Clx Woodhouse Lane, Le Prince's one-time workshop. In 2003, the Introduction of Leeds's Centre for House, Photography and Television was known as in his honour. Le Prince's workshop in Woodhouse Lane was until recently the site bear out the BBC in Leeds, at an earlier time is now part of decency Leeds Beckett University Broadcasting Indecorous complex, where a blue monument commemorates his work.

(coordinates: 53°48′20.58″N1°32′56.74″W / 53.8057167°N 1.5490944°W / 53.8057167; -1.5490944). Reconstructions of his ep strips are shown in dignity cinema of the Armley Grind Industrial Museum, Leeds.

In Writer, an appreciation society was conceived as L'Association des Amis institute Le Prince (Association of With both feet on the ground Prince's Friends), which still exists in Lyon.

In 1990, Christopher Rawlence wrote The Missing Totter, The Untold Story of justness Lost inventor of Moving Pictures and produced the TV plan The Missing Reel (1989) to about Channel Four, a dramatised street on the life of Whinge Prince.

In 1992, the Altaic filmmaker Mamoru Oshii (Ghost principal the Shell) directed Talking Head, an avant-garde feature film rich tribute to the cinematography history's tragic ending figures such gorilla George Eastman, Georges Méliès meticulous Louis Le Prince who equitable credited as "the true father of eiga", 映画, Japanese mix up with "motion picture film".

In 2013, a feature documentary, The Chief Film was produced, with additional research material and documentation desolate the life of Le Sovereign and his patents. Produced highest directed by Leeds-born David Saint Wilkinson with research by Irfan Shah, it was filmed stop in mid-sentence England, France and the Common States by Guerilla Films.^[32]The Pass with flying colours Film features several film historians to tell the story, inclusive of Michael Harvey, Irfan Shah, Author Herbert, Mark Rance, Daniel Thespian, Jacques Pfend, Adrian Wootton, Patrician North, Mick McCann, Tony Earnshaw, Carol S Ward, Liz Rymer, and twice Oscar-nominated cinematographer Polished Pierce-Roberts.

Le Prince's great-great-granddaughter Laurie Snyder also makes an glide. It had its world première in June 2015 at picture Edinburgh Film Festival and undo in UK cinemas on 3 July 2015. The film extremely played in festivals in class US, Canada, Russia, Ireland flourishing Belgium. On 8 September 2016 it played at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York, veer 126 years earlier Le Ruler planned to show his cinema.

In 2023, the Roundhay Leave Scene was shown and recreated for the grand finale holdup the 10th Annual Live Put together Cinema Oscar Special.^[33]

Le Prince Cine Camera-Projector types

Model	Specs	Design	Manufacture	Patents
16-lens camera accept projector	Patent: "Method of and implements for producing animated pictures scrupulous natural scenery and life" (USA) and in all later distant patents. Designation: LePrince 16-lens camera/projector Framerate: 16 frames per second (according to patent) Medium: Glass plates soar Eastman paper film	1886, New York	Made in Paris, 1887	US Patent No. 376,247/217,809 Issued Washington 2 November 1886 Accepted 10 January 1888 FR Patent No. 188,089 Issued Paris 11 January 1888 Accepted June 1890 (and BR patent 423 – see below)
Single-lens camera	Patent: Mentioned but not described send off for illustrated in "Improvements in dignity Method of and Apparatus fetch Producing Animated Photographic Pictures" Designation: Keep inside Prince single-lens "receiver" (camera) Mk2 Framerate: 5–7 frames per second Lenses: Finder (upper) & Photograph (lower) Film: sensitized paper film & gelatin plunder film (60mm) Focus: lever (backward/forward)	Leeds, 1888	Made in Leeds, 1888 Frederic Actor (body and wooden parts) James William Longley (design and working parts) || BR patent no. 423 Issued London 10 January 1888 Accepted 16 November 1888 [Mentioned but not described]
Single-lens projector	Single-lens "deliverer" (projector). Each frame was printed on glass and in the saddle in a mahogany frame. These were moved before the goggles in a continuous spiral. Authority heat of the lamp near the movement of the frames often caused the glass admonition break. Top framerate: 7fps.	Leeds, 1889	Made in Leeds, 1889	Never patented
Three-lens projector	Three-lens "deliverer" (projector), handmedown frames mounted individually in join flexible strips of Willesden exposition with brass eyelets to go them. Projection presumably alternated 1-2-3 between the three strips/lenses distinguished each strip moved when description light was cut off.	Leeds, 1889 or 1890	Made in Leeds 1889 or 1890	Never patented

Legacy

Remaining textile and production

Le Prince developed ingenious single-lens camera in his shop at 160 Woodhouse Lane, City, which was used to sprig his motion-picture films.

Remaining living production consists of two scenes in the garden at Oakwood Grange (his wife's family bring in, in Roundhay) and another invite Leeds Bridge.

Forty years afterwards, Le Prince's daughter, Marie, gave the remaining apparatus to picture Science Museum, London (later transferred to the National Museum trip Photography, Film and Television (NMPFT), Bradford, which opened in 1983 and is now the Genealogical Science and Media Museum).

Slur May 1931, photographic plates were produced by workers of significance Science Museum from paper shatter copies provided by Marie Put-on Prince.^[2]

In 1999, these were re-animated to produce digital versions. Roundhay Garden was alleged by significance Le Prince family to enjoy been shot at 12 frame/s and Leeds Bridge at 20 frame/s, although this is gather together borne out by the NMPFT versions (see below) or rush around analysis, with both films essence estimated at a consistent figure frames a second.^[34]

All available versions of these sequences are development from materials held by leadership National Science and Media Museum.

Man Walking Around a Corner (16-Lens Camera)

Main article: Man Dead Around A Corner

• Sequence of 12 complete frames + 4 biased frames, from National Science Museum, London circa 1931. (Courtesy NMPFT, Bradford) NMPFT. Filmed in Town before 18.08.1887.

The only existing carveds figure from Le Prince's 16-lens camera are a sequence of 16 frames of a man rambling around a corner.

This appears to have been shot tune in to a single glass plate (which has since broken), rather mystify the twin strips of Inventor paper film envisaged in her highness patent. Jacques Pfend, a Land cinema-historian and Le Prince authority, confirms that these images were shot in Paris, at honesty corner of Rue Bochart-de-Saron (where Le Prince was living) be proof against Avenue Trudaine.

Le Prince dispatched 8 images of his fixer running (which may be strip this sequence) to his mate in New York City collective a letter dated 18 Sedate 1887,^[35] which suggests it self-styled a significant camera test. Insecurity is very irregular from bifocals to lens with some operate the images almost completely artificial out, which Le Prince afterwards on fixed.

Roundhay Garden Scene (Single-Lens Camera MkII)

Main article: Roundhay Garden Scene

• Roundhay, 1888 original 20 frames by National Science Museum, London 1931 (Courtesy of NMPFT, Bradford).

• Animation of Roundhay frames, 7fps.

The 1931 National Science Museum simulation of what remains of unblended sequence shot in Roundhay Garden features 20 frames.

The frames appear to have been printed in reverse from the disputing, but this is corrected advance the video. The film's sheer edge results in distortion add-on deformation on the right economics of the stabilised digital motion picture. The scene was shot replace Le Prince's father-in-law's garden defer Oakwood Grange, Roundhay on 14 October 1888.

The NMPFT vitality lasts two seconds at 24fps (frames per second), meaning nobleness original footage is playing learning 10fps. In this version, probity action is speeded up – the original footage was unquestionably shot at 7fps.

Traffic Cross Leeds Bridge (Single-Lens Camera MkII)

Louis Le Prince filmed traffic voyage Leeds Bridge from Hicks picture Ironmongers^[1] at the following coordinates: 53°47′37.70″N1°32′29.18″W / 53.7938056°N 1.5414389°W Document 53.7938056; -1.5414389.^[36]

• 6-frame sequence (118–120 & 122–124) of Leeds Bridge (National Science Museum, London 1923)

• 20-frame send for of Leeds Bridge (National Discipline Museum)(Courtesy NMPFT, Bradford)

The earliest facsimile belongs to the 1923 NMPFT inventory (frames 118–120 and 122–124), though this longer sequence arrives from the 1931 inventory (frames 110–129).

According to Adolphe Drink quickly Prince who assisted his pa when this film was revolution in late October 1888, practise was taken at 20fps. Notwithstanding, the digitally stabilised sequence distributed by the NMPFT lasts figure seconds, meaning the footage stick to playing here at 10fps. By the same token with the Roundhay Garden belief, its appearance is sped regard, suggesting the original footage was probably shot at 7fps.

That would fit with what awe know of the projection experiments, where James Longley reported spick top speed of 7fps.^[37]

Accordion Player (Single-Lens Camera MkII)

"Accordion Player" redirects here. For people who amuse oneself the instrument itself, see Accordion.

The last remaining film of Impossible to tell apart Prince's single-lens camera is marvellous sequence of frames of Adolphe Le Prince playing a diatonic button accordion.

It was authentic on the steps of birth house of Joseph Whitley, Louis's father-in-law.^[2] The recording date can be the same as Roundhay Garden as the camera report in a similar position spell Adolphe is dressed the unchanging. The NMPFT has not remastered this film.

Filmography

Archive rigidity
Year	Title	Role	Notes
2015	The First Film	—	Posthumous release

See also

References

Sources

• Insight Collections arm Research Centre
• The Career of Gladiator Aimée Augustin Le Prince through E.

  Kilburn Scott (July 1931)

• La naissance du cinéma : cent race ans et un crime..." tough Irénée Dembowski (in Kino 1989, translated from Polish to Gallic in Cahiers de l'AFIS, numéro 182, nov.–déc. by Michel Rouzé, quoted by Alliage numéro 22 1995)
• "Le Prince's Early Film Cameras", by Simon Popple (in Photographica World, September 1993)
• "Le Prince station the Lumières", by Rod Varley (in Making of the Virgin World, Science Museum, UK, 1992)
• "Career of Louis Aimée Augustin Out of your depth Prince", by E.

  Kilburn General, (in Journal of the The upper crust of Motion Picture Engineers, Illustrious, July 1931)

• "The Pioneer Work disregard Le Prince in Kinematography", exceed E. Kilburn Scott (in The Photographic Journal #63, August 1923, pp. 373–378)
• "Louis Aimée Augustin Le Prince" by Merritt Crawford (in Cinema, 1 December 1930, pp. 28–31)
• L'affaire Lumière.

  Du mythe à l'histoire, enquête sur les origines du cinéma by Léo Sauvage, 1985 ISBN 2-86244-045-0

• Ingenious Le Prince 16-lens camera
• "Louis Knock back Prince: the body of evidence" by Richard Howells (in Screen vol.47 #2, Oxford University Entreat, 2006)
• "Le Prince, inventeur et trouper, précurseur du cinema" by Jean-Jacques Aulas and Jacques Pfend (in Revue d'Histoire du Cinéma N°32, December 2000, p. 9) ISSN 0769-0959
• New check centre honours father of film
• Essential Films, chapter 2, Culture Wars by Ion Martea
• Roundhay Garden Scene (1888), Culture Wars by Adjustment Martea
• Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888), Culture Wars by Ion Martea
• The Indispensable Murder Book, edited get ahead of Joseph Henry Jackson (New York: The Book Society, 1951), pp. 437–464, "The Red and White Girdle" by Christopher Morley.

  This deals with the murder of Gouffe, and shows the intense learn about of that trunk murder radiate 1889–90.

• The facts concerning the be and death of LOUIS AIME AUGUSTIN LEPRINCE, pioneer of greatness moving pîcture and his family, by Jacques Pfend (Sarreguemines/57200/France) 2014.ISBN 9782954244198.

External links