Francis Chit photographs of Thailand, 1860s-1880s

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Summary

Creators:

Abstract:

The collection comprises 27 photographs of Bangkok and environs taken from the 1860s to the 1880s by Francis Chit, a native Thai photographer. The majority of the images depict Thai architecture including temples, shrines, and pagoda ruins; palaces and other royal structures; diplomatic and commercial buildings; and vernacular architecture. Also present are several studio portraits of unidentified Thai people.

Extent:

1.5 Linear Feet (27 photographs)

Language:

French , English .

Preferred citation:

Francis Chit photographs of Thailand, 1860s-1880s, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2024.R.33

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/archives2024r33

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises 27 albumen photographs of Bangkok taken by Francis Chit, the official photographer to the Siamese court. The majority of the images depict Thai architecture including temples, shrines, and pagoda ruins; palaces and other royal structures; diplomatic and commercial buildings; and vernacular architecture. Included is a view of the Phra Pathom Chedi, the tallest stupa in the world, under renovation, and an early view of a monk's house. Also present are several studio portraits of unidentified Thai people. Group portraits include men playing traditional games, the cast of a Thai musical play, and the Thai king as a prince-monk with other monks and priests.

Many of the mounts have captions in French or English. These have been used as titles for the individual photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Francis Chit (Chit Chitrakani, known by the noble titles Khun Sunthonsathitsalak (Khoon Soondr Sadislacks / Khoon Soondr Sadislax) and Luang Akani Naruemitr, 1830-1891) was a Thai professional photographer and long-time court photographer to Rama IV (King Mongkut, reigned 1851–1868) and his successor, Rama V (King Chulalongkorn, reigned 1868–1910). Chit likely learned photography from European photographers visiting Thailand and from early royal court photographers. He opened a studio in Bangkok in 1863 in a floating house. The studio was later run by his sons and was in existence until at least 1908.

In his official government capacity Chit produced royal portraits and photographed royal events. He also photographed the palaces, temples, and landscapes of Bangkok and environs. By 1878, his catalog listed over 9,000 images. Indeed, Chit is largely responsible for the photographic documentation of late-nineteenth-century Thailand.

In 1880, Chit became head of the royal gas department, responsible for gas lighting in Bangkok.

Sources consulted:

Terpak, Frances, "Acquisition Approval Form for 'Francis Chit...27 Photographs of Siam,'" accession no. 2024.R.33, 8 May 2024.

Thiriez, Régine. "Chit, Francis (Khun Sunthornsathitsalak; 1830–91)," in Robin Lenman and Angela Nicholson eds., The Oxford Companion to the Photograph. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Print Publication 2005; Published online: 2006. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198662716.001.0001/acref-9780198662716-e-296.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 2024.

Processing information:

Beth Ann Guynn processed the collection and wrote the finding aid in 2024.

Arrangement:

Arranged in a single series: Series I. Francis Chit photographs of Thailand, 1860s-1880s.

Physical location:

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Rules or conventions: