Louis Lumière - Discoverers, Family and Facts
Louis Lumière's Personal Details
Louis Lumière and his brother Auguste were French inventors who made the world’s first true motion picture
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | October 5, 1864 |
| Died on | June 6, 1948 |
| Nationality | French |
| Famous | Inventors & Discoverers, Discoverers, Inventor of Cinematograph, Inventors |
| Spouses | Rose Winckler |
| Siblings | Auguste Lumière |
| Known as | Louis Jean Lumière, Louis Jean Lumiere |
| Discoveries / Inventions |
|
| Birth Place | Besançon |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Antoine Lumière |
| Mother | Jeanne-Joséphine Costille |
| Sun Sign | Libra |
| Born in | Besançon |
| Famous as | Inventor of Cinematograph |
| Died at Age | 83 |
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Louis Lumière's photo
Who is Louis Lumière?
Louis Lumière and his brother Auguste were French inventors who made the world’s first true motion picture. They patented the cinematograph—a motion picture film camera and a film projector—which they used to make movies. Born as the son of a photographer, he became fascinated with the art of photography and the science behind it early on in life. His interest was shared by his brother Auguste and the two young men began working together in their father’s photographic firm. Louis made some improvements to the still-photograph process, and together with his father and brother developed a new, cutting edge, "dry" photographic plate, dubbed the "blue label" plate. The brothers started experimenting with creating moving images after their father’s retirement and found considerable success with their creative inventions. Inspired by Edison’s peephole Kinetoscope, the brothers started working on a similar machine and acquired the technology for the cinematograph from Léon Guillaume Bouly and patented the equipment in their own names. They went on to record motion pictures and held their first private screening of projected motion pictures in 1895. The popularity of their invention motivated them to embark on a world tour and they screened movies in cities like Bombay, London, Montreal, New York and Buenos Aires across the globe.
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Auguste Lumière
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Childhood & Early Life
Louis Jean Lumière was born on October 5, 1864, in Besançon, France, to Claude-Antoine Lumière and Jeanne Joséphine Costille Lumière. He had three siblings—a sister named Jeanne and two brothers, Édouard and Auguste. His father was a painter turned photographer.
Louis became interested in photography at an early age, a fascination he shared with his elder brother Auguste. He was blessed with creativity, confidence and a love for science and performed well at La Martiniere technical high school.
Career
After graduating from high school, Louis Lumière joined his brother and father to work in the photographic firm his father ran. This collaboration proved to be very fruitful and the father and sons successfully developed a new, cutting edge, "dry" photographic plate, dubbed the "blue label" plate.
The invention was a commercial success as well and over the next several years the family accumulated a vast fortune manufacturing the plate. The money earned helped the brothers in funding further experimentation. Now they shifted their focus to color photography.
Their father retired in 1892 and the brothers now began working on developing motion-picture technology. Their prior experimentation in color photography came in much handy during this time.
Their father went to a showing of Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope in Paris and was much impressed by the equipment. He asked his sons to work on building a similar machine. At around the same time, French inventor Léon Bouly had invented a device called the cinematograph. Bouly was however unable to develop his machine further so he sold his rights to the device and its name to the Lumière Brothers.
The brothers worked to improvise the cinematograph and were successful in building a device that combined a camera with printer and projector. They patented the device in 1895 and made their first motion picture ‘Sortie de l'usine Lumière de Lyon’ the same year. This film showed workers leaving the Lumière factory.
They publicly screened the film at L'Eden, the world's first and oldest cinema in southeastern France in September 1895. A few months later in December, they showed their film at the Grand Café on the boulevard des Capucines in Paris which earned them wide public acclaim. This marked the beginning of cinema history.
Over the next few years Louis Lumière made many short films, recording everyday French life—The arrival of a train, a toiling blacksmith, soldiers marching, a game of cards, and other ordinary day-to-day activities. Along with Auguste he also made some comedy shorts.
Having become fairly famous because of their movie making, the brothers went on to open theaters throughout the United States, and toured all over the world with their cinematograph visiting several cities like Brussels, Bombay, London, Montreal, New York and Buenos Aires.
Louis and Auguste Lumière are also credited with making the first newsreel, a film of the French Photographic Society Conference, and the first documentaries, four films about the Lyon fire department.
The brothers were also pioneers in the field of color photography. They patented a color photographic process, the "Autochrome Lumière" in 1903 which was launched in the market in 1907. The Lumière company was a major producer of photographic products in Europe for much of the 20th century.
Awards & Achievements
Auguste and Louis Lumière were awarded the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, the highest award given by the Franklin Institute, in 1909 for their work in color photography.
Major Works
The Lumière brothers are best known for being the first filmmakers in history. They patented the cinematograph and made the world’s first motion picture, ‘Sortie de l'usine Lumière de Lyon’ which they followed up with films like ‘L'Arrivée d'un Train en Gare de la Ciotat’, ‘Carmaux, défournage du coke’, and ‘L'Arroseur Arrosé’.
Personal Life & Legacy
Louis Lumiere died on June 6, 1948, aged 83.
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Louis Lumière biography timelines
- // 5th Oct 1864Louis Jean Lumière was born on October 5, 1864, in Besançon, France, to Claude-Antoine Lumière and Jeanne Joséphine Costille Lumière. He had three siblings—a sister named Jeanne and two brothers, Édouard and Auguste. His father was a painter turned photographer.
- // 1892Their father retired in 1892 and the brothers now began working on developing motion-picture technology. Their prior experimentation in color photography came in much handy during this time.
- // 1895The brothers worked to improvise the cinematograph and were successful in building a device that combined a camera with printer and projector. They patented the device in 1895 and made their first motion picture ‘Sortie de l'usine Lumière de Lyon’ the same year. This film showed workers leaving the Lumière factory.
- // Sep 1895They publicly screened the film at L'Eden, the world's first and oldest cinema in southeastern France in September 1895. A few months later in December, they showed their film at the Grand Café on the boulevard des Capucines in Paris which earned them wide public acclaim. This marked the beginning of cinema history.
- // 1903 To 1907The brothers were also pioneers in the field of color photography. They patented a color photographic process, the "Autochrome Lumière" in 1903 which was launched in the market in 1907. The Lumière company was a major producer of photographic products in Europe for much of the 20th century.
- // 1909Auguste and Louis Lumière were awarded the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, the highest award given by the Franklin Institute, in 1909 for their work in color photography.
- // 6th Jun 1948Louis Lumiere died on June 6, 1948, aged 83.
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Louis Lumière's FAQ
What is Louis Lumière birthday?
Louis Lumière was born at 1864-10-05
When was Louis Lumière died?
Louis Lumière was died at 1948-06-06
Where was Louis Lumière died?
Louis Lumière was died in Bandol
Which age was Louis Lumière died?
Louis Lumière was died at age 83
Where is Louis Lumière's birth place?
Louis Lumière was born in Besançon
What is Louis Lumière nationalities?
Louis Lumière's nationalities is French
Who is Louis Lumière spouses?
Louis Lumière's spouses is Rose Winckler
Who is Louis Lumière siblings?
Louis Lumière's siblings is Auguste Lumière
What is Louis Lumière's inventions/discoveries?
Autochrome Lumière, Color Photography was invented (or discovered) by Louis Lumière
Who is Louis Lumière's father?
Louis Lumière's father is Antoine Lumière
Who is Louis Lumière's mother?
Louis Lumière's mother is Jeanne-Joséphine Costille
What is Louis Lumière's sun sign?
Louis Lumière is Libra
How famous is Louis Lumière?
Louis Lumière is famouse as Inventor of Cinematograph