Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904), born in Kingston-on-Thames, left England to undertake the study of photography and soon became one of the pioneers in the new field. Beginning with a series of photographic assignments for the United States government, he became well known as a landscape photographer, principally of the far West and, later, Central America. However, his studies of the human figure and animals in motion, begun in 1872, are the works by which he is mainly known today. This project, which occupied almost the entire remainder of his life, was undertaken to prove that at one time during its stride a trotting horse has all four feet off the ground. His many inventions during this period of his life not only contributed to the development of photography but anticipated and laid the ground for the development of motion pictures.
Almost forgotten now are other events of his life. Muybridge, having married in his early forties, discovered through letters sent to his wife, Flora, that she had a lover, Colonel Larkyns. On October 17, 1874, Muybridge sought out Colonel Larkyns at the Yellow Jacket quicksilver mines not far from San Francisco. He greeted Larkyns with the words, "Good evening Major, my name is Muybridge and here is the answer to the letter you sent my wife." Muybridge then shot Larkyns, killing him on the spot. The subsequent trial in San Francisco was international news, Muybridge by then being quite well known. In the end he was acquitted, Larkyn's child borne by his wife, was subsequently raised by Muybridge after his wife's death a few years later. |
- 1982 
