Mary Dillwyn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Dillwyn
Mary Dillwyn, self-portrait (c. 1853)
Born	1816 Wales
Died	December 1906 (aged 89 or 90) Arthog, Meirionnydd, Wales
Occupation	photographer and wife
Known for	pioneering photography
Spouse(s)	Reverend Montague Earle Welby
Parent(s)	Lewis Weston Dillwyn Mary Adams (cy)

'Willy' smiling, 1853

Mary Dillwyn (1816–1906) is known as one of the very first female photographers in Wales. She took many photos of flowers, animals, and her family and friends in the 1840s and 1850s. Her pictures give us a special look into the daily lives of women and children in 19th-century Britain. She helped show that everyday moments could be important subjects for photography.

Mary Dillwyn's Life

Mary Dillwyn was born in 1816. Her father was Lewis Weston Dillwyn, and her mother was Mary Adams. She had an older brother, John Dillwyn Llewelyn, who was also a photographer. He even created new ways to take pictures. Her family was connected to William Henry Fox Talbot, who is famous for inventing photography in 1839.

Mary was very interested in new technology for her time. Most of her photographs are small calotypes from the 1840s and 1850s. A calotype was an early type of photograph made on paper. This makes her the first female photographer in Wales.

Unlike many male photographers, Mary liked to use a small camera. This camera needed only short exposure times. This meant she could take quick, natural photos. She captured private moments of her family and friends in Victorian life. Because of this, her work looked more real than other photographers' pictures from that time. Mary's interest in photography seems to have ended around 1857. This was when she married Reverend Montague Earle Welby. Mary Dillwyn passed away in December 1906 in Arthog, Meirionnydd.

Her Amazing Photographs

Mary Dillwyn's photographs have been saved in special albums. These albums are now kept at the National Library of Wales.

One album, bought in 2002, has 42 salt prints and one albumen print. These are early types of photographic prints. The album shows pictures of her family's home, portraits of friends and family, and studies of flowers and birds. One of her pictures is thought to be the first photograph ever taken of a smile! She managed to capture her young nephew, William Mansel Llewelyn, smiling. This photo shows Mary's relaxed and natural style.

Another album, called the Llysdinam Album, was made around 1853. It has 72 salt prints. These pictures show flowers, dolls, birds, pets, and more family and friends. The National Library of Wales bought this album in 2007.

Mary Dillwyn is also known for taking the first photograph of a snowman. She took this picture around 1853.

Her Legacy

Today, there is a pub named Mary Dillwyn in Swansea, West Wales. It is named after her to honor her pioneering work.

Gallery