Francis Chit facts for kids
Francis Chit (born around 1830 – died May 23, 1891) was a pioneering Thai photographer. He was the first person in Thailand to work as a professional photographer. He took pictures for King Mongkut (Rama IV) and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). His photography studio, later called "Francis Chit and Sons," was on a floating house in the Kudi Chin area. Francis Chit greatly helped create a visual record of Siam (the old name for Thailand). His original photos are now part of the National Archives of Thailand, and they are so important that they are listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
Life Story of Francis Chit
Chit was born around 1830. His father, Tueng, was a military marksman. We don't know much about his early life, but he was likely a Catholic Christian from the Kudi Chin community. He might have had some Portuguese family roots. His Christian name was Francis.
Chit probably learned about photography around 1847. He might have learned from a French missionary priest named Louis François Larnaudie, who brought camera equipment to Siam in 1845. Another possible teacher was Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix. About ten years later, Chit started using a newer photography method called the collodion process. He likely learned this from Luang Wisutyothamat (who many consider the first Thai photographer) and a Swiss photographer named Pierre Rossier. Rossier visited Bangkok in 1861.
In 1863, Francis Chit opened his own photography studio. It was on a floating house near Santa Cruz Church. This made him the first Thai person to become a professional photographer. He advertised his business in early Thai and English newspapers. For example, an ad in the Bangkok Recorder on June 16, 1865, offered photo prints and portrait services.
Francis Chit also worked for the government. He served the Second King Pinklao until Pinklao passed away in 1866. After that, Chit worked for King Mongkut at the Royal Palace. He received a special noble title, Khun Sunthonsathitsalak, which meant 'officer for fine likeness images'. He worked in the royal armoury department.
Besides taking royal portraits, he did other important work. He went on a trip to photograph the ancient ruins of Phimai (now Phimai Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima Province). He also photographed a total solar eclipse of 18 August 1868. He was part of the royal group that watched this amazing event at a village called Wa Ko.
King Mongkut died soon after the eclipse. Francis Chit continued to serve Mongkut's son, King Chulalongkorn. He recorded many royal events with his camera. He even traveled with the King to Singapore, Java, and British India. However, it's not clear if any photos from those trips are definitely his.
In 1880, Chit became the head of a new royal gas department. He was in charge of the city's gas lighting. He was promoted to a new title, Luang Akkhaninaruemit, which means 'officer of fire making'. He had learned about gas science from French priests. In the same year, he opened a shop on the busy Charoen Krung Road. His sons, Thongdee and Sa-at, joined the business. Thongdee, who was 14, had trained in Germany.
Francis Chit passed away from cholera on May 23, 1891.
Francis Chit's Family
Francis Chit had six children. Two of his sons, Thongdee and Sa-at, joined his photography studio and later took over the business.
Thongdee (born around 1860s – died October 21, 1895) was the older son. He first inherited the studio and also became a royal photographer for King Chulalongkorn. He received the title Khun Chayasathitsakon and the Dushdi Mala Medal. Sadly, he died just a few years after his father.
After Thongdee's death, the business went to his younger brother, Sa-at. Sa-at also received the same title as his brother (later promoted to Phra Chayasathitsakon) and the Dushdi Mala Medal.
Later, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) gave Francis Chit's descendants the family name Chitragani. This name is also used for Francis Chit himself, even though he passed away before it was given.
His Photos and Achievements
Francis Chit's studio created portraits in popular sizes like carte de visite and later cabinet cards. Marks on the back of his photos show that he received the Pushpa Mala Medal. This was a royal award for skilled craftspeople. He also received a royal warrant, which allowed him to display the royal symbol. His studio, run by his sons, even won a bronze medal at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
Besides portraits, which he took for people and sold to royalty, Chit also had a collection of photos of beautiful places. These included palaces, temples, and landscapes around Bangkok. Many of Chit's photos were copied and sometimes wrongly credited to European photographers. However, his work makes up most of the photographic record of Siam during the second half of the 1800s. A list of his works from 1878 shows over 9,000 images!
More than 2,000 of his original glass plates and large negatives are kept at the National Archives of Thailand. His son Sa-at donated them to the Vajirañāṇa Royal Library. These photos are part of the Royal Photographic Glass Plate Negatives and Original Prints Collection. This collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2017 because of its historical importance.
