body and extended legs (like the conventional galloping horse), lands upon
the left fore foot, the right fore will next touch the ground; from this he
will again spring into the air, and with curved body and flexed legs land
upon the right hind foot, while the right fore feet will be half the length
of the body to the rear. The left hind now descends, another flight is
effected, and again the left fore repeats its functions of support and
propulsion.
These successive foot fallings are common to all dogs when galloping, and
it is worthy of note that the same rotary action in the use of the limbs is
adopted in the gallop of the elk, the deer and the antelope, all of which
animals, like the dog, can for a time excel the horse in speed.
A search through all the dictionaries published at the time of writing, and
accessible to the Author, fails to discover a correct definition of "the
gallop." This motion is in America frequently miscalled the "run," and its
execution "running," but no corresponding explanation of the word is given
by any lexicographer.
In Scott's "Lady of the Lake" occurs "Then faint afar are heard the feet of
rushing steeds in _gallop_ fleet," many other distinguished Authors refer
to the same action by the same name, by which, or its equivalents, it is
universally known in Europe.
THE LEAP.
There is little essential difference in general characteristics of either
of the several movements that have been described, but with a number of
experiments made with horses while leaping, no two were found to agree in
the manner of execution. The leap of the same horse at the same rate of
speed, with the same rider, over the same hurdle, disclosed much variation
in the rise, clearance, and descent of the animal. A few phases were,
however, invariable. While the horse was raising his body to clear the
hurdle, one hind foot was always in advance of the other, which exercised
its last energy alone.
On the descent, the concussion was always first received by one fore foot,
followed more or less rapidly by the other, sometimes as much as 30 inches
in advance of where the first one struck; the hind feet were also landed
with intervals of time and distance.
No attempt will be made to analyze the consecutive phases of various other
acts of Animal Locomotion, such as rearing, bucking, kicking, tossing,
etc., on account of the irregularity which characterizes their execution,
and the difficulty of obtaining reliable data.
The Author has vainly sought for the rules which govern the hind feet of a
playfully disposed mule; but the inquiry has usually been unsatisfactory,
and upon some occasions disastrous. Should these movements be controlled by
any general law, it is of such a complex nature that all attempts to
expound it have hitherto been fruitless.
The figures in the series of circles (see appendix A) were selected from
"ANIMAL LOCOMOTION"
and arranged by the Author for his less ambitious work,
"POPULAR ZOOPRAXOGRAPHY."
(See Appendix C).
They were traced by the well known artist, Erwin Faber, and are reproduced
one-third the diameter of the circles arranged for the zoöpraxiscope. Many
of the original phases of movement are omitted on account of the optical
law which in the construction of a zoöpraxiscope requires that the number
of illustrations must bear a certain relationship to the number of
perforations through which they are viewed.
The popular number of thirteen having been selected for the latter, the
same number of figures illustrate actions without lateral progressive
motion.
When the number of illustrated phases is less than the number of
perforations, the succession of phases is in the direction of the motion,
and the disc is necessarily revolved in a reverse direction.
When the number of phases is greater than the number of perforations, the
phases succeed each other in a direction contrary to that of the motion,
and the disc is revolved in the direction of the motion.
An increased or diminished number of figures will respectively result in an
increased or diminished apparent speed of the object.
For further information on the subject, the reader is referred to the
ZOOPRAXISCOPE.
* * * * *
_APPENDIX A._
SYLLABUS OF A COURSE OF TWO LECTURES
ON
ZOOPRAXOGRAPHY
OR
THE SCIENCE OF ANIMAL LOCOMOTION IN ITS RELATION
TO DESIGN IN ART.
Origin of the Author's Investigations--Diagram of the Studio at the
University of Pennsylvania where the Investigation was conducted--Batteries
of Cameras, Electro-exposers, Contact-motor, Chronograph, and other
apparatus used for photographing consecutive phases of animal
movements--Method of obtaining successive exposures of moving objects
synchronously from several different points of view--Normal Locomotion of
Animals--Twelve consecutive phases of a single step of the Horse while
walking; also of the Ox, Elk, Goat, Buffalo, and other cloven-footed
animals; the Lion, Elephant, Camel, Dog, and other soft-footed animals; of
the Sloth while suspended by its claws, and of the Child while crawling on
the ground; of man walking erect--The Normal Method of Locomotion by all
animals essentially the same--The Quadrupedal Walk as interpreted by
Prehistoric Man, by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Etruscans,
Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and by eminent artists of mediæval and of
modern times--The Statue of Marcus Aurelius the great source of modern
errors; Marcus Aurelius in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Paris,
Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, and many other cities--Albert Durer,
Verrocchio, Meissonier, Paul Delaroche, Landseer, Rosa Bonheur, Elizabeth
Thompson Butler, &c.--Other Quadrupedal movements, the Amble, Rack, Trot
and Canter--Twelve phases in the Gallop of a Horse--Origin of the modern
representation of the Gallop--Gallop as depicted by the Hittites, North
American Indians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks, the mediæval artists--The
modern conventional gallop; evidences of its absurdity; acknowledgment by
the Artist of the necessity of reformation--Leap of the Horse, Kick of the
Mule, &c., all illustrated by photographs the size of life, from nature,
and comparisons made with the interpretation of the same movements by
artists of pre-historic, ancient, mediæval and modern times--Demonstration
of the action of the primary feathers in the wing of a Bird while Flying,
and a solution of the complex problem of Soaring.
AFTER THE VARIOUS METHODS OF LOCOMOTION HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED BY ANALYSIS,
THEY WILL BE REPRESENTED SYNTHETICALLY BY THE ZOOPRAXISCOPE.
_Among the many Institutions where Mr. Muybridge has had the honor of
Lecturing on_
ZOOPRAXOGRAPHY
_are the following_:--
Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Royal Society of London.
Royal College of Surgeons, London.
Royal Institution of Great Britain.
Royal Dublin Society.
Royal Geographical Society.
Royal Institution, Hull.
British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Linnean Society, Zoological Society.
Art and Science Schools, South Kensington Museum.
London Institution, Glasgow Philosophical Society.
Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society.
Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society.
Town Hall, Birmingham; Nottingham Arts Society.
Manchester Athenæum.
University of Oxford.
Eton College, Clifton College.
Wellington College, Yorkshire College,
Rugby School, Charterhouse.
Leeds Mechanics' Institute.
Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society.
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society.
Warrington Literary and Philosophical Society.
Yorkshire Philosophical Society, Bristol Naturalists' Society.
Bath Associated Scientific and Art Societies.
Ipswich Scientific Society, Photographic Society of Ireland.
Liverpool Associated Literary, Scientific and Art Societies.
St. George's Hall, Liverpool.
School of Military Engineering, Chatham.
The School of Fine Arts; Hall of the Hemicycle, Paris.
The Society of Artists, Berlin.
The Society of Artists, Vienna.
The Society of Artists, Munich.
The Urania Scientific Society, Berlin.
The Polytechnic High School, Vienna.
The Polytechnic High School, Munich.
The University of Turin.
The "Cercle de L'Union Artistique,"
The Studio of M. Meissonier in Paris, Etc., Etc., Etc.
_And at all the principal Institutions of Art, Science, Education and
Learning in the United States of America._
[Illustration: 1. ATHLETE, HORSE-BACK SOMERSAULT.]
ABBREVIATED CRITICISMS.
"On Monday last, in the theatre of the ROYAL INSTITUTION, a select and
representative audience assembled to witness a series of the most
interesting demonstrations of Animal Locomotion given by Mr. Muybridge.
"The Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Victoria, Louise, and Maud, and
the Duke of Edinburgh honored the occasion by their presence; likewise did
I note among the brilliant company Earl Stanhope, Sir Frederick Leighton,
P.R.A.; Professors Huxley, Gladstone, and Tyndall; and last, not least,
Lord Tennyson, poet laureate.
[Illustration: 2. ATHLETES BOXING.]
"Mr. Muybridge exhibited a large number of photographs of horses galloping,
leaping, etc.... By the aid of an astonishing apparatus called a
ZOOPRAXISCOPE, which may be briefly described as a magic lantern run mad
(with method in the madness), the animals walked, cantered, ambled,
galloped, and leaped over hurdles in a perfectly natural and lifelike
manner. I am afraid that, had Muybridge exhibited his ZOOPRAXISCOPE three
hundred years ago, he would have been burned as a wizard.... After the
horses came dogs, deer, and wild bulls. Finally man appeared (in
instantaneous photography) on the scene, and ran, leaped, and turned back
somersaults to admiration."--GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA in _Illustrated London
News_.
[Illustration: 3. ATHLETES RUNNING.]
"Both scientific and artistic circles in London are at present greatly
interested in the triumphs of Mr. Eadweard Muybridge in photographing the
successive phases of animal movements. Our leading biologists and artists
have at once perceived and acknowledged the vast importance of the results
of his work."--_The Times, London._
[Illustration: 5. ATHLETE, RUNNING HIGH JUMP.]
"The Archbishop of York occupied the chair.... His Grace congratulated the
crowded and distinguished audience on the opportunity afforded them of
hearing Mr. Muybridge, and said that to everybody who felt an interest in
the phenomena of motion, the magnificent results of the investigation
carried on by Mr. Muybridge and the University of Pennsylvania were
wonderfully instructive."--_York Herald._
"His audiences have been drawn from the very first ranks of art, science,
and fashion."--_British Journal of Photography._
[Illustration: 6. ATHLETE, STANDING LONG JUMP.]
"These demonstrations are marvellously complete, ... exceedingly abundant
and rich in suggestion and instruction, and appeal to almost every class or
condition of humanity."--_Saturday Review, London._
"Mr. Muybridge delighted his audience with his wonderful
photographs."--_The Times, London._
"... Last night Mr. Muybridge gave his final lecture in Newcastle on 'The
Science of Animal Locomotion,' with the whole of the wonderful
illustrations; the Art Gallery being again crowded to excess."--_Newcastle
Chronicle._
[Illustration: 11. ATHLETES. BASE BALL; BATTING.]
"A photographic achievement which seemed to me at the time scarce credible,
and which I was presently assured by one of our ablest English
photographers was absolutely outside the bounds of possibility."--PROFESSOR
R. A. PROCTOR in the _Gentleman's Magazine_.
"At the conversazione of the Royal Society much interest was excited by Mr.
Eadweard Muybridge's lecture. The ZOOPRAXISCOPE afforded the spectator an
opportunity of studying by synthesis, the facts of motion which are also
demonstrated by analysis."--_Illustrated London News._
[Illustration: 14. BOYS PLAYING LEAP-FROG.]
"A really marvellous series of plates."--_Nature, London._
"Artistic people are all talking about Mr. Muybridge, who has come hither
with that rare desideratum--_something new_."--London CORRESPONDENCE,
_Philadelphia Times._
"It is impossible to do justice in this short time to the extraordinary
exhibition given by Mr. Muybridge at the Institute of Technology.... The
interest they excite in the mind of the spectator is
indescribable."--_Sunday Gazette, Boston._
[Illustration: 16. CHILDREN RUNNING.]
"The photographs have solved many complicated questions as to animal
locomotion."--_Art Journal, London._
"The effect was weird, yet fascinating. Plaudit followed plaudit. A better
pleased assemblage of people it would be difficult to find."--_Boston
Journal._
"... Mr. Muybridge then gave his famous lecture and demonstration on Animal
Locomotion. The hall (St. James') was crowded, and many were unable to
obtain seats."--Report of the Photographic Convention, _British Journal of
Photography_.
[Illustration: 17. ELEPHANT AMBLING.]
"A demonstration that vividly interests all the world."--_L'Illustration,
Paris._
"Many of these pictures have great--indeed, astonishing--beauty. The
interest which they present from the scientific point of view is
three-fold:--(_a_) They are important as examples of a very nearly perfect
method of investigation by photographic and electrical appliances. (_b_)
They have also a great value on account of the actual facts of natural
history and physiology which they record. (_c_) They have, thirdly, a quite
distinct, and perhaps their most definite, interest in their relation to
psychology."--PROF. E. RAY LANKESTER, F. R. S., in _Nature_.
[Illustration: 18. LION WALKING.]
"Mr. Meissonier's critical guests were evidently sceptical as to the
accuracy of many of the positions; but when the photographs were turned
rapidly, and made to pass before the lantern, their truthfulness was
demonstrated most successfully."--_Standard, London._
"Meissonier, devoting himself to his friends, evidently cared little for
personal compliments; he was anxious for the well-deserved distinction of
his _protégé_ Muybridge.... 'C'est merveilleusement arrangé!' said
Alexandre Dumas. 'C'est que la nature _compose_ crânement bien!' replied
Meissonier."--_Le Temps_, Paris.
[Illustration: 20. EGYPTIAN CAMEL RACKING.]
"The sensation of the day, and the topic of popular conversation."--_Boston
Daily Advertiser._
"The rapid movements by different animals were most interesting: and
hurdle-racing by horses--the very whipping process being visible--brought
down the house."--_Boston Herald._
"On revolving the instrument, the figures that have been derided by so many
as impossible absurdities, started into life, and such a perfect
representation of a racehorse at full speed as was never before witnessed
was immediately visible."--_The Field, London._
[Illustration: 21. BABOON WALKING.]
"Mr. Muybridge showed that many of our best artists have been in the habit
of depicting animals in positions which they never assume in
nature."--_Chambers' Edinburgh Journal._
"The large school-room (Clifton College) was crowded. The head master
presided. Loud applause and frequent laughter greeted the life-sized
photographs from nature, which by a rapid revolution of the ZOOPRAXISCOPE,
showed among other actions, the ambling of an elephant, the gallop of a
race-horse, the somersault of a gymnast and the flight of a
bird."--_Bristol Mercury._
[Illustration: 22. KANGAROO JUMPING.]
"The lecture theatre of the ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS was filled to
overflowing."--_Athenæum, London._
"The Royal Dublin Society's Theatre was filled to its utmost capacity
yesterday afternoon, when Mr. Muybridge resumed his course of Lectures. The
demonstration is simply marvellous."--_Daily Express, Dublin._
"The result of years of labor, and of large expenditure of money is at last
laid before the public in this magnificent work, and the result is one of
which Mr. Muybridge and the University of Pennsylvania may well be
proud."--_Evening Post_, New York.
[Illustration: 23. BUFFALO GALLOPING.]
"A Lecture of an exceptionally interesting character."--_Nottingham
Guardian._
"There was a crowded attendance. Throughout the lecture Mr. Muybridge
retained the close interest of his audience, and drew from them frequent
and warm applause."--_The Scotsman, Edinburgh._
"In all my long experience of London life I cannot recall a single instance
where such warm tributes of admiration have been so unsparingly given by
the greatest in the land, as in the case of Mr. Muybridge's
lectures."--OLIVE LOGAN in the _Morning Call, San Francisco_.
[Illustration: 24. ELK GALLOPING.]
"Mr. Muybridge illustrated his lecture with a series of most valuable
photographs, as well as that most fascinating of scientific toys--the
ZOOPRAXISCOPE."--_Magazine of Art, London._
"His labors attracted considerable attention in the world of science, while
among artists and art critics a pretty controversy set in on the subject of
the horse and his representation in art, which is likely to be revived and
extended to other fields.... With Mr. Muybridge, 'Instantaneous
Photography' has acquired a new significance, ..."--_Saturday Review,
London._
[Illustration: 25. MONKEYS CLIMBING A COCOA PALM.]
"No parallel in the history of photography."--_Photographic Times, New
York._
"An exhibition which Raphael, Tintoretto, Michael Angelo, and other great
masters of the Renaissance would have travelled all over Europe to
see."--_Evening Transcript, Boston._
"The audience was astonished and delighted at the marvellous demonstrations
of Animal Locomotion that were brought before them.... The most remarkable
feature of the British Association meeting this year."--_Newcastle
Journal._
[Illustration: 28. GREYHOUND GALLOPING.]
"The effects of the ZOOPRAXISCOPE made up one of the most unique and
instructive entertainments imaginable."--_Boston Daily Globe._
"A more curious, entertaining, and suggestive exhibition it has not been
our good fortune for a long time to attend."--_Sacramento Record-Union._
"Everybody has heard something of the wonderful success which Mr. Muybridge
has achieved; and in no country in the world is greater interest felt in
his work, particularly as regards horses, than in England."--_Engineering,
London._
[Illustration: 29. MULE, BUCKING AND KICKING.]
"Simply marvels of the photographer's art."--_Mercury_, Leeds.
"Not the least instructive part of the Lecture was the contrast between the
positions of animals as shown in ancient and modern art, with their true
positions as shown by themselves in the camera."--_New York Tribune._
"Professor Marey invited to his residence a large number of the most
eminent men in Europe for the purpose of meeting Mr. Muybridge, and
witnessing an exhibition that should be placed before the whole Parisian
public."--_Le Globe, Paris._
[Illustration: 32. PIGEONS FLYING.]
"The art critic and the connoisseur will find a study of Mr. Muybridge's
work of inestimable value in aiding them to criticize
intelligently."--_Pennsylvanian, Philadelphia._
"The applause which greeted these wonderful pictures from the brilliant
company was hearty in the extreme; and all predicted a new era was open to
art, and new resources made available for the use of
artists."--_Galignani's Messenger, Paris._
"Of immense interest and value."--_Lippincott's Magazine, Philadelphia._
[Illustration: 34. GRECIAN DANCING GIRLS.]
"The ZOOPRAXISCOPE is the latest, most unique, and instructive form of
amusement possible."--_Commercial Gazette_, Cincinnati.
"His work at once attracted the attention of the world."--_Scientific
American_, New York.
"Of much interest and value, as well as a source of great
amusement."--_Observer, London._
"The realism of the motions of the various animals was intense, and the
audience was very enthusiastic."--_Boston Post._
[Illustration: 39. HORSE TROTTING (fast).]
"The Lecturer proceeded to show enlarged photographs of various animals in
motion, as the horse, dog, lion, mule, cat, etc.... These were followed by
some very striking pictures of the flight of birds, which from a scientific
standpoint were by far the most interesting and valuable of the photographs
shown during the evening."--_Lancet_, London.
"Of extreme interest, not only to the artists and scientists, but to the
greater part of his audience, who were neither the one or the
other."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
[Illustration: 41. HORSE CANTERING.]
"A host of well-known scientists and artists are greatly interested in this
remarkable work."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
"The lecture on Tuesday night more than fulfilled the expectations which
the audience had formed of Mr. Muybridge's researches."--_Belfast News
Letter._
"Mr. Muybridge might well be proud of the reception accorded him by his
distinguished audience; it would have been difficult to add to the _éclat_
of his appearance, and his lecture was welcomed by a warmth as hearty as it
was spontaneous."--_The Photographic News, London._
[Illustration: 42. HORSE GALLOPING.]
"The illustrations are truly wonderful, and the rapid changing positions
were most instructive."--_Nottingham Express._
"The concert room was crowded.... A vote of thanks to the Lecturer was
proposed by his Grace the Archbishop."--_Yorkshire Chronicle._
"A very brilliant audience was assembled at the Royal Institution.... The
photographs properly studied should be most valuable in affording truer and
more exact data for the painter to base his work upon...."--_The Builder,
London._
[Illustration: 43. HORSE JUMPING.]
"A very important subject to all those interested in art."--_Belfast News
Letter._
"It is now nine years since the photographs of Mr. Eadweard Muybridge
surprised the world by challenging all received conceptions of animal
motion."--_Century Magazine, New York._
"The interest excited by the novelty, both of the demonstrations and the
results, was so great, that Mr. Muybridge has been invited by the
Photographic Society of Ireland to repeat them to-night in a public
lecture."--_The Freeman's Journal, Dublin._
[Illustration: 44. HORSE HAULING.]
"The audience filled the large hall, and by their frequent and hearty
applause, expressed their appreciation of the lecture."--_Irish Times,
Dublin._
"A very large audience again assembled in the Town Hall last evening, on
the occasion of the second Lecture by Mr. Muybridge. The Mayor, who
presided, referred to the first Lecture as perhaps the most unique ever
delivered in Birmingham."--_Birmingham Daily Gazette._
"The attendance was exceedingly large, and the Lecture and admirable
illustrations were loudly applauded."--_The Irish Times, Dublin._
[Illustration: 45. COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION HORSE RACE, GALLOPING.]
"There was a very large attendance, and seldom have we seen so much genuine
admiration and enthusiasm displayed as were evoked by Mr. Muybridge's
illustrations, which were really wonderful."--_The Daily Express, Dublin._
"There was a crowded audience, and the Lecture, which was listened to with
the greatest interest, was warmly applauded."--_The Freeman's Journal,
Dublin._
"No description can do justice to the extent and variety of the subjects
presented in this thorough study of animal movements."--_Ledger_,
Philadelphia.
[Illustration: 46. COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION HORSE RACE, TROTTING.]
"Wonderful and interesting demonstration; its influence will become more
and more potent and universal as the years go on."--_Argus, Albany._
"Will necessarily revolutionize the treatment of the action of the horse in
painting and sculpture. For the physiological study of animal movements
these pictures are a veritable treasure."--_Landwirthschaftliche-Zeitung,
Vienna._
"I am lost with admiration of these photographs of Mr.
Muybridge."--PROFESSOR MAREY, in _La Nature, Paris._