Richard Ellis (Maltese photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Ellis
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| Born | 27 January 1842 London, UK
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| Died | 23 December 1924 (aged 82) Crown Colony of Malta
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| Nationality | English, Maltese |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Years active | 1862–1924 |
| Spouse(s) | Alfonsina Curmi |
| Children | John Ellis, Amelia, Mary |
Richard Ellis (born January 27, 1842 – died December 23, 1924) was a British-Maltese photographer. He was one of the first important photographers in Malta. This was during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Richard was born in London, UK. He traveled around Europe as a circus performer. At age 19, he moved to Malta. Soon after, he opened his own photography studio in Valletta. He became a very famous photographer. His collection of tens of thousands of photos still exists today. His work is important for its history and amazing quality.
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Early Life and Photography Beginnings
Richard Ellis was born on January 27, 1842. His parents were James and Sarah Ellis. He was one of many children in his family.
As a child, Richard became an apprentice to circus performers. They were James and Sarah Conroy. He traveled with them across Europe. Richard became a skilled tightrope walker.
During a trip to Paris, James Conroy and Richard Ellis became very interested in photography. They learned about it at the Daguerre Institute. This was a place where people learned early photography methods.
Later, they traveled through Italy and Sicily. But because of events related to Italian unification, they moved to Malta. Malta was a British colony nearby. Richard, the Conroys, and another person arrived in Malta on April 9, 1861. Richard then worked as an assistant in James Conroy's first studio. This studio was in Senglea.
A Career in Photography
When James Conroy arrived in Malta, he opened a Daguerreotype photography studio. A daguerreotype was an early type of photograph. Richard Ellis worked there as his helper. Around 1865, James Conroy moved his studio to a new spot in Valletta. By 1870, he had another studio. This one mainly made small photos called carte de visite.
In 1871, Richard Ellis opened his own studio in Valletta. He was popular with both local Maltese people and British visitors. This was because he had a British name but was married to a Maltese woman. Soon, he became one of the best photographers on the island.
Ellis took many kinds of photos. These included pictures of landscapes, portraits of people, and photos of social events. He was also good at developing, editing, and printing photos. He even made frames for them. Later, Ellis also sold photography equipment.
His work is famous for its historical importance and high technical quality. Richard Ellis took photos of many important people. These included King George V of the United Kingdom and King Albert I of Belgium. He also photographed the German emperor and the queen of Portugal.
His photos were shown in many publications. One famous example is a 1920 issue of National Geographic magazine. He also won several awards and trophies at exhibitions.
Over his long career, Ellis created a huge collection of photos. He took between 36,000 and 45,000 pictures. These photos show Malta's history from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. They record buildings, views, and important events. They also show how society changed over time.
Personal Life and Other Work
Richard Ellis also taught photography. He tutored at the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He was also part of the group that organized the 24th International Eucharistic Congress in 1913.
At age 22, Ellis married Alfonsina Curmi. She was a Maltese woman from Cospicua. They had a son named John. They also had two daughters, Amelia and Mary.
Richard Ellis is buried at the Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery. This is in Paola and is Malta's largest graveyard.
Legacy of Richard Ellis
After Richard Ellis passed away, his son John took over the photography business. John ran it until 1931. Then, Richard's grandson, Richard Jr., took over. He continued the business until 1993. In the 1990s, the company started focusing more on making frames than photography.
Later, Richard Jr.'s nephew, Ian Ellis, took charge. Ian's main goal has been to protect and keep the huge collection of photographs. Ian Ellis has published books that show Richard Ellis's amazing photos. He also hopes to open a photography museum in Malta. He is working with Dr. Charles Paul Azzopardi, a photographic historian, to make this happen.
