Andreas (Ritter) "von" Ettingshausen (1796-1878)

Professions: Daguerreotypist

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  ANDREAS RITTER VON ETTINGSHAUSEN (1796-1878)

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Andreas (Ritter) "von" Ettingshausen Biography

(b Heidelberg, 1796; d Vienna, Austria, May 1878) German Photographer. Andreas Ritter von Ettingshausen, although an unfamiliar name in English language histories of photography, was the central figure in the introduction of the daguerreotype to Austria and a seminal force in the development and practical application of photography. Appointed to a full professorship in mathematics at the University of Vienna at the age of twenty-five, he became an internationally recognized physicist, educator and promoter of scientific progress in the 1830s. Upon Prince Metternich's learning of the invention of the daguerreotype in January of 1839, Ettingshausen became avidly interested in the discovery and established communications with Daguerre. Ettingshausen, as official Austrian representative to the Prince, was invited to attend the official disclosure of the working details of the process in Paris by D.F. Arago in August of 1839. Ettingshausen, upon his return to Austria in October, immediately commenced making daguerreotypes for Prince Metternich. Examples of these daguerreotypes were exhibited in Vienna in November of 1839 and caused much excitement. Thus, through Ettingshausen, the Viennese scientific community was introduced to the daguerreotype, leading to the development of Vienna as the center of photography for the German-speaking world. Ettingshausen gave the first public lectures on the Petzval lens in November and December of 1841. He continued to be intensely interested in the progress of photography and optics and his career as an educator spanned 49 years. For his exceptional service to the state and science, he received many official honors from the Austrian court.* (Credit: Christie’s, London, Photographs, May 19, 2004, Lot 7)

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