Born in 1872 in New Zealand Leonard Whithair Appleby undertook some training in painting in 2nd grade art, c.1885 – c.1887 at the Christchurch School of Art, before taking up photography. He came to Sydney in the late 1880s gaining experience at Falk studio in Sydney and in Newcastle. He worked for Christchurch photographer C.H. Manning from 1890 to October 1895 continuing as managing partner of C H Manning & Co with Manning’s widow Emma until early 1898 when the firm of Standish and Preece purchased all the negatives of Charles Henry Manning, C.H. Manning & Co and L.W.Apppleby .
when . By March 1898 Appleby was working for Falk Studios in The Strand in Sydney before starting his own studio in the arcade in 1906 which ran until 1920. His studio was taken over by Monte Luke.
Appleby has a significant role as an early exponent of art photography in Australia. In 1905 critic A.G. Stephens devoted an long article to him in _Art and Architecture _making the claim that Appleby 'seems to be first and chief among those who have attempted the new photography. Certainly no series of gum-portraits has been shown in Sydney to equal the set recently exhibited by him at the Art Society’s rooms.’ Stephens cited Alfred Stieglitz and Clarence White as American models for Appleby’s gum bichromate work. Appleby and A.H. Adams exhibited bi-chromate prints with the Society of Artists in 1907. He was established in Albury from 1922-23 and Newcastle in 1930-31.
Appleby was still active in Salons as a judge in 1938 for the 150th Anniversary exhibition in Sydney.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1999
- Last updated:
- 2022
