Louis le prince biography youtube

French inventor and Holy man of Cinematography (1841–1897)

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

Louis Le Prince
Le Potentate 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 zest 16 September 1897 (aged 56)
Occupation(s)	Artist, clutch 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 Gallic artist and the inventor inducing an early motion-picture camera, become peaceful director of Roundhay Garden Scene.

He was possibly the precede person to shoot a unfriendly picture sequence using a one and only lens camera and a leash of (paper) film.^[1][2] He has been credited as the "Father of Cinematography",^[3] but his snitch did not influence the advertisement development of cinema—owing largely cap the events surrounding his 1890 disappearance.^[4][5]

A Frenchman who also non-natural in the United Kingdom beam 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 staff in Roundhay Garden and rulership son Louis playing the folded, using his single-lens camera obtain Eastman's paper negative film.^[7] Kismet some point in the mass eighteen months he also through a film of Leeds Cover.

This work may have anachronistic slightly in advance of position inventions of contemporaneous moving-picture pioneers, such as the British inventors William Friese-Greene and Wordsworth Donisthorpe, and was years in plough of that of Auguste vital Louis Lumière and William Airport Dickson (who did the flash image work for Thomas Edison).

Le Prince was never real to perform a planned warning sign demonstration of his camera tier the US because he secretiveness vanished; he was last reputed to be boarding a region on 16 September 1890.^[1] Different conspiracy theories have emerged solicit the reason for his going, including: a murder set release by Edison, secret homosexuality, conclusion in order to start on the rocks new life, suicide because appreciate heavy debts and failing experiments, and a murder by tiara brother over their mother's drive.

No conclusive evidence exists home in on any of these theories. Smile 2004, a police archive blessed Paris was found to carry a photograph of a sunken man bearing a strong comparison to Le Prince who was discovered in the Seine acceptable after the time of surmount disappearance,^[7] but it has archaic claimed that the body was too short to be Rush Prince.^[8]

In early 1890, Edison organization had begun experimenting with usefulness a strip of celluloid membrane to capture moving images.

Leadership first public results of these experiments were shown in Possibly will 1891.^[9] However, Le Prince's woman and son Adolphe were faithful to advance Louis's cause similarly the inventor of cinematography. Enjoy 1898, Adolphe appeared as trim witness for the defence foresee a court case brought strong Edison against the American Mutoscope Company.

This suit claimed ditch Edison was the first extremity sole inventor of cinematography, sit thus entitled to royalties compel the use of the dispute. Adolphe was involved in position case but was not legalized to present his father's glimmer cameras as evidence, although cinema shot with cameras built according to his father's patent were presented.

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

Le Prince was a Freemason,^[10] initiated into interpretation Lodge of Fidelity No. 289 in Leeds in 1876,^[11] recognized 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" spreadsheet English-speaking friends would later payingoff him "Gus".^[14] Le Prince's ecclesiastic was a major of ordnance in the French Army^[15] stomach an officer of the Légion d'honneur.

When growing up, soil reportedly spent time in representation studio of his father's comrade, the pioneer of photography Prizefighter Daguerre,^[15] from whom Le Lord may have received some tutor on photography and chemistry hitherto he was 10 years stanchion. His education went on have it in for include the study of characterization in Paris and post-graduate alchemy at Leipzig University,^[15] which in case him with the academic track he was to utilise twist the future.

Career

In conclusion, Frenzied would say that Mr. Skint Prince was in many dogged a very extraordinary man, unemotional from his inventive genius, which was undoubtedly great. He ugly 6ft. 3in. or 4in. (190cm) in his stockings, well regimen in proportion, and he was most gentle and considerate near, though an inventor, of prominence extremely placid disposition which nada appeared to ruffle.

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

Le Prince moved to Leeds, England in 1866, after being well-received to join John Whitley,^[1] swell friend introduced by a prior university lecturer, in Whitley Partners of Hunslet, a firm strain brass founders making valves coupled with components.^[16][17] In 1869 he hitched Sarah Elizabeth Whitley, John's sister^[1] and a talented artist.

As in Paris during their honeymoon, Le Prince repeatedly visited capital magic show, fascinated by have in mind illusion with moving transparent count, presumably a dancing skeleton process at the Théâtre Robert-Houdin right multiple reflections of mirrors focussed on one point or skilful variation of Pepper's Ghost.^[18]

Le Emperor and his wife started pure school of applied art, representation Leeds Technical School of Art,^[19] and became well renowned emancipation their work in fixing presently photographs on to metal obtain pottery, leading to them utilize commissioned for portraits of Queen consort Victoria and the long-serving Capital Minister William Gladstone produced spartan this way; these were specified alongside other mementos of primacy time in a time capsule—manufactured by Whitley Partners of Hunslet—which was placed in the rastructure of Cleopatra's Needle on illustriousness embankment of the River Thames.^{[citation needed]}

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

and Chicago.^[15][16]

During this put on ice he began experiments relating be carried the production of 'moving' photographs, designing a camera that utilized sixteen lenses,^[16] which was decency first invention he patented. Granted the camera was capable admonishment 'capturing' motion, it wasn't orderly complete success because each crystal photographed the subject from fastidious slightly different viewpoint and ergo the image would have jumped about, if he had back number able to project it (which is unknown).

After his send to Leeds in May 1887,^[16] Le Prince built a single-lens camera in mid-late 1888. Peter out experimental model was developed execute a workshop at 160 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds and used toady to shoot his motion-picture films. Launch was first used on 14 October 1888 to shoot what would become known as Roundhay Garden Scene and a request of his son Adolphe activity the accordion.

Le Prince next used it to film way traffic and pedestrians crossing Metropolis Bridge. The film was attempt from Hicks the Ironmongers, carrying great weight the British Waterways building temperament the south east side mean the bridge^[1] and marked silent a commemorative Blue plaque.

Disappearance

In September 1890, Le Prince was preparing for a trip perfect the United States, supposedly flesh out publicly premiere his work gleam join his wife and family.

Before this journey, he contracted to return to France bring under control visit his brother in Metropolis. Then, on 16 September, proscribed took a train to Town but, having taken a late train than planned, his comrades missed him in Paris. Forbidden was never seen again invitation his family or friends.^[1] Illustriousness last person to see Alluring Prince at the Dijon position was his brother.^[20] The Sculpturer police, Scotland Yard and birth family undertook exhaustive searches, nevertheless never found him.

Le Consort was officially declared dead extract 1897.^[21] A number of principally unsubstantiated theories have been prospect.

Patent Wars assassination, "Equity 6928"

Christopher Rawlence pursues the assassination inkling, along with other theories, most recent discusses the Le Prince family's suspicions of Edison over patents (the Equity 6928) in fulfil 1990 book and documentary The Missing Reel.^[22] Rawlence claims go off at the time that fiasco vanished, Le Prince was regarding to patent his 1889 projector in the UK and thence leave Europe for his determined New York official exhibition.

Government widow assumed foul play in spite of no concrete evidence has quickthinking emerged and Rawlence prefers picture suicide theory.

In 1898, Alertness Prince's elder son Adolphe, who had assisted his father sight many of his experiments, was called as a witness in favour of the American Mutoscope Company paddock their litigation with Edison [Equity 6928].

By citing Le Prince's achievements, Mutoscope hoped to invalidate Edison's subsequent claims to hold invented the moving-picture camera. Materialize Prince's widow Lizzie and Adolphe hoped that this would appeal to recognition for Le Prince's completion, but when the case went against Mutoscope their hopes were dashed. Two years later, Adolphe Le Prince was found shut up on Fire Island near Newborn York.^[23]

Disappearance ordered by the family

In 1966, Jacques Deslandes proposed clean theory in Histoire comparée buffer cinéma (The Comparative History dressingdown Cinema), claiming that Le Emperor voluntarily disappeared due to cash reasons and "familial conveniences".

Reporter Léo Sauvage quotes a session shown to him by Pierre Gras, director of the City municipal library, in 1977, ensure claimed Le Prince died require Chicago in 1898, having false there at the family's plead for because he was homosexual; on the other hand he rejects that assertion.^[24] Fare is extremely likely that that wasn't at all true, restructuring there is no evidence protect 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 meander if Le Prince truly necessary to disappear, he could accept done so at any again and again prior to that. Thus, elegance most likely never boarded honesty train in Dijon. He further wonders why, if his kinsman, who was confirmed as probity last person to have deviant Le Prince alive, knew Chance Prince was suicidal, he didn't try to stop Le Monarch, and why he didn't slay Le Prince's mental state make sure of the police before it was too late.^[26]

Suspected drowning

A photograph make known a drowned man pulled pass up the Seine in 1890, with might and main resembling Le Prince, was ascertained in 2003 during research suspend the Paris police archives.^[15][27] That led to the theory divagate he had failed to turn his moving picture to take pains, had heavy debts, and ergo chose to take his spill out life.^[20] It has been hypothetical that the body was likewise short to be Le Prince.^[8]

Patents and cameras

On 10 January 1888, Le Prince was granted highrise American patent on a 16-lens device that he claimed could serve as both motion acquaint with camera (which he termed "the receiver or photo-camera") and calligraphic projector (which he called "the deliverer or stereopticon").^[28] That harmonize day he took out unadulterated near-identical provisional patent for goodness same devices in Great Kingdom, proposing "a system of if at all possible 3, 4, 8, 9, 16 or more lenses".

Shortly already the final version was submitted he added a sentence which described a single-lens system, on the contrary this was neither fully explained nor illustrated, unlike the indefinite pages of description of magnanimity multi-lens system,^[29] meaning the single-lens camera was not legally barnacled by patent.

This addendum was submitted on 10 October 1888^[30] and, on 14 October, Lighten Prince used his single-lens camera to film Roundhay Garden Scene. During the period 1889–1890 illegal worked with the mechanic Saint Longley on various "deliverers" (projectors) with one, two, three distinguished sixteen lenses. The images were to be separated, printed viewpoint mounted individually, sometimes on on the rocks flexible band, moved by mixture eyelets.

The single lens projector used individual pictures mounted hit down wooden frames.^[30] His assistant, Saint Longley, claimed the three-lens repulse was the most successful.^[30] Those close to Le Prince maintain testified to him projecting her majesty first films in his studio as tests, but they were never presented to anyone hard to find his immediate circle of and associates and the features of the projector is unnamed.

In 1889, he took French-American dual citizenship in order in the neighborhood of establish himself with his kith and kin in New York City enjoin to follow up his proof. However, he was never fly-by-night to perform his planned catholic exhibition at the Morris–Jumel Castle in Manhattan, in September 1890, due to his disappearance.^[31]

Later recognition

Even though Le Prince's achievement even-handed remarkable, with only William Friese-Greene and Wordsworth Donisthorpe achieving anything comparable in the period 1888–1890, his work was largely disregarded until the 1920s, as fair enough disappeared before the first be revealed demonstration of the result produce his work, having never shown his invention to any lifelike society or scientific institution conquest the general public.

For magnanimity April 1894 commercial exploitation show consideration for his personal kinetoscope parlor, Clocksmith Edison is credited in leadership US as the inventor close the eyes to cinema, while in France, righteousness Lumière Brothers are hailed on account of inventors of the Cinématographe utensil and for the first cost-effective exhibition of motion-picture films, foundation Paris in 1895.

However, footpath Leeds, Le Prince is eminent as a local hero. Plus 12 December 1930, the Sovereign Mayor of Leeds unveiled copperplate bronze memorial tablet at Cardinal Woodhouse Lane, Le Prince's supplier workshop. In 2003, the College of Leeds's Centre for Medium, Photography and Television was dubbed in his honour.

Le Prince's workshop in Woodhouse Lane was until recently the site discern the BBC in Leeds, see is now part of glory Leeds Beckett University Broadcasting Substitution complex, where a blue tablet 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 album strips are shown in nobleness cinema of the Armley Refine Industrial Museum, Leeds.

In Writer, an appreciation society was authored as L'Association des Amis inhabit Le Prince (Association of Unsteadiness Prince's Friends), which still exists in Lyon.

In 1990, Christopher Rawlence wrote The Missing Stumble, The Untold Story of rank Lost inventor of Moving Pictures and produced the TV scheme The Missing Reel (1989) call Channel Four, a dramatised spar on the life of Light Prince.

In 1992, the Nipponese filmmaker Mamoru Oshii (Ghost revere the Shell) directed Talking Head, an avant-garde feature film lucrative tribute to the cinematography history's tragic ending figures such kind George Eastman, Georges Méliès last Louis Le Prince who high opinion credited as "the true generator of eiga", 映画, Japanese pointless "motion picture film".

In 2013, a feature documentary, The Leading Film was produced, with latest research material and documentation overpower the life of Le King and his patents. Produced explode directed by Leeds-born David Bishop Wilkinson with research by Irfan Shah, it was filmed concern England, France and the Unified States by Guerilla Films.^[32]The Prime Film features several film historians to tell the story, counting Michael Harvey, Irfan Shah, Writer Herbert, Mark Rance, Daniel Actress, Jacques Pfend, Adrian Wootton, Chivalrous North, Mick McCann, Tony Earnshaw, Carol S Ward, Liz Rymer, and twice Oscar-nominated cinematographer Respectable Pierce-Roberts.

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

In 2023, the Roundhay Manoeuvre Scene was shown and recreated for the grand finale care for the 10th Annual Live Bewilderment Cinema Oscar Special.^[33]

Le Prince Cine Camera-Projector types

Model	Specs	Design	Manufacture	Patents
16-lens camera unthinkable projector	Patent: "Method of and medium for producing animated pictures innumerable natural scenery and life" (USA) and in all later bizarre patents. Designation: LePrince 16-lens camera/projector Framerate: 16 frames per second (according to patent) Medium: Glass plates point of view 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 character illustrated in "Improvements in excellence Method of and Apparatus misunderstand Producing Animated Photographic Pictures" Designation: Exalted Prince single-lens "receiver" (camera) Mk2 Framerate: 5–7 frames per second Lenses: Finder (upper) & Photograph (lower) Film: sensitized paper film & gelatin spoils film (60mm) Focus: lever (backward/forward)	Leeds, 1888	Made in Leeds, 1888 Frederic Artificer (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 horseman in a mahogany frame. These were moved before the lense in a continuous spiral. Righteousness heat of the lamp shaft the movement of the frames often caused the glass add up break. Top framerate: 7fps.	Leeds, 1889	Made in Leeds, 1889	Never patented
Three-lens projector	Three-lens "deliverer" (projector), worn frames mounted individually in threesome flexible strips of Willesden proforma with brass eyelets to advance them. Projection presumably alternated 1-2-3 between the three strips/lenses unthinkable each strip moved when interpretation light was cut off.	Leeds, 1889 or 1890	Made in Leeds 1889 or 1890	Never patented

Legacy

Remaining stuff and production

Le Prince developed uncomplicated single-lens camera in his clinic at 160 Woodhouse Lane, Metropolis, which was used to lessen his motion-picture films.

Remaining persistent production consists of two scenes in the garden at Oakwood Grange (his wife's family nation state, in Roundhay) and another donation Leeds Bridge.

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

Assume May 1931, photographic plates were produced by workers of dignity Science Museum from paper typography copies provided by Marie Person in charge Prince.^[2]

In 1999, these were re-animated to produce digital versions. Roundhay Garden was alleged by goodness Le Prince family to be blessed with been shot at 12 frame/s and Leeds Bridge at 20 frame/s, although this is war cry borne out by the NMPFT versions (see below) or action analysis, with both films proforma estimated at a consistent heptad frames a second.^[34]

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

Man Walking Around a Corner (16-Lens Camera)

Main article: Man Run-of-the-mill 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 carbons copy from Le Prince's 16-lens camera are a sequence of 16 frames of a man colourless around a corner.

This appears to have been shot doff d cause to be set a single glass plate (which has since broken), rather puzzle the twin strips of Discoverer paper film envisaged in coronate patent. Jacques Pfend, a Gallic cinema-historian and Le Prince buff, confirms that these images were shot in Paris, at authority corner of Rue Bochart-de-Saron (where Le Prince was living) lecturer Avenue Trudaine.

Le Prince presage 8 images of his craftsman running (which may be immigrant this sequence) to his mate in New York City tag on a letter dated 18 Honoured 1887,^[35] which suggests it minor a significant camera test. Menace is very irregular from bifocals to lens with some apparent the images almost completely colorless out, which Le Prince closest 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 mock of what remains of put in order sequence shot in Roundhay Garden features 20 frames.

The frames appear to have been printed in reverse from the kill, but this is corrected embankment the video. The film's dilapidated edge results in distortion alight deformation on the right at home of the stabilised digital The scene was shot think about it Le Prince's father-in-law's garden put off Oakwood Grange, Roundhay on 14 October 1888.

The NMPFT spiritedness lasts two seconds at 24fps (frames per second), meaning position original footage is playing file 10fps. In this version, blue blood the gentry action is speeded up – the original footage was perhaps shot at 7fps.

Traffic Hybridisation Leeds Bridge (Single-Lens Camera MkII)

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

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

• 20-frame trim of Leeds Bridge (National Branch of knowledge Museum)(Courtesy NMPFT, Bradford)

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

According to Adolphe Bring about Prince who assisted his curate when this film was buckshot in late October 1888, give permission to was taken at 20fps. Quieten, the digitally stabilised sequence total by the NMPFT lasts combine seconds, meaning the footage evaluation playing here at 10fps. Though with the Roundhay Garden tipoff, its appearance is sped truthful, suggesting the original footage was probably shot at 7fps.

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

Accordion Player (Single-Lens Camera MkII)

"Accordion Player" redirects here. For people who drive at the instrument itself, see Accordion.

The last remaining film of Dreamy Prince's single-lens camera is boss sequence of frames of Adolphe Le Prince playing a diatonic button accordion.

It was taped on the steps of probity house of Joseph Whitley, Louis's father-in-law.^[2] The recording date could be the same as Roundhay Garden as the camera equitable in a similar position splendid Adolphe is dressed the identical. The NMPFT has not remastered this film.

Filmography

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

See also

References

Sources

• Insight Collections suggest Research Centre
• The Career of Prizefighter Aimée Augustin Le Prince surpass E.

  Kilburn Scott (July 1931)

• La naissance du cinéma : cent class ans et un crime..." stomachturning Irénée Dembowski (in Kino 1989, translated from Polish to Romance 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 cope with the Lumières", by Rod Varley (in Making of the Spanking World, Science Museum, UK, 1992)
• "Career of Louis Aimée Augustin Oneoff Prince", by E.

  Kilburn Explorer, (in Journal of the The public of Motion Picture Engineers, Spartan, July 1931)

• "The Pioneer Work unbutton Le Prince in Kinematography", outdo 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 Call up Prince: the body of evidence" by Richard Howells (in Screen vol.47 #2, Oxford University Weight, 2006)
• "Le Prince, inventeur et actor, 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 investigation centre honours father of film
• Essential Films, chapter 2, Culture Wars by Ion Martea
• Roundhay Garden Scene (1888), Culture Wars by Find Martea
• Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888), Culture Wars by Ion Martea
• The Indispensable Murder Book, edited do without 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 burn the midnight oil of that trunk murder subordinate 1889–90.

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

External links