Eadweard Muybridge: the Kingston Museum Bequest
Eadweard Muybridge was born Edward James Muggeridge at Kingston upon Thames, Surrey in 1830 and died there in 1904. He spent much of his working life in America where he found fame as a photographer. Muybridge donated and bequeathed an important collection of his work to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and this was placed in Kingston Museum which was built a few months after his death.
In the century since his death, Muybridge's fame has grown and his images continue to be a major influence on artists around the world. His moving-image discs now at Kingston are unique. The fascinating and creative sequences of silhouettes and coloured drawings of people and animals in motion are extensively reproduced for the first time and will delight today's animators and motion picture historians.
An important resource for Muybridge researchers, historians of photography and the origins of motion pictures, local and regional enthusiasts ( Kingston upon Thames, San Francisco, Pennsylvania, Guatemala and Panama), art historians, magic lanternists; athletes and equestrians.
Edited by Stephen Herbert, co-publisher
Introduction by Anne McCormack, Head of Kingston Museum & Heritage Service
Other Contributors
Marta Braun, photograhic historian and specialist author
Paul Hill, Muybridge author, historian and ex-curator Kingston Museum
Stephen Herbert, moving image historian and museum consultant
The book contains over 200 illustrations including
- Many previously unpublished moving image discs featuring animated silhouettes and coloured drawings
- The unique Zoopraxiscope motion picture machine and biunial magic lantern slide projector
- Famous sequence photographs, 1878-79 and 1884-86
- Magic Lantern slides used in Muybridge's lectures
- Giant 13-panel Panorama of San Francisco, 1878
Published by the Projection Box in association with Kingston Museum and Heritage Service, 159pp.and 234 illustrations in b/w & colour. A4 hardback.
Available now from Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS and Kingston Local History Room, North Kingston Centre, Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5PE. Price £30 (add £2.50 for postage and packing in the UK and £7.50 for overseas orders.).
A poster designed for children but which is also suitable as a good general introduction for the non-specialist, is now available from the above address, price £1.50.
For more information ring + 44 (0)20 8547 6738 or
email king.mus@rbk.kingston.gov.uk