Portraits of Prominent Citizens by local artist Samuel Moon on Exhibit at Sigal Museum

Christian Bixler

The names read like a “Who’s Who” of prominent families of 18^th Century Northampton County. Bixler, Mixsell, Drinkhouse, McKeen, these families are known for their accomplishments and achievements. In a time before photographs, it was customary for the well-to-do to have their portraits painted, and for these local families the artist was Samuel Moon.

Moon opened a studio in Easton in 1830, which he maintained until his death in 1860. Although he was self-taught Moon’s work was well respected and his fame as a painter spread. From his studio Moon painted portraits of local merchants and businessmen and also traveled to Philadelphia and other cities in Eastern Pennsylvania. Thought to be a very prolific painter, Moon painted copies of the Old Masters, landscapes and miniatures in addition to portraits.

Minnie Bercaw

Taken from the collections of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, “Many Moons Remembered” exhibits twenty-six of Moon’s portraits. While many of these portraits are striking representations of the subject, for some the stories behind the portraits tell of sad circumstances. The portrait of Minnie Bercaw who died from scarlet fever at the age of six shows a sweet looking young girl playing with a jump rope with a cat lying at her feet. The lovely Anne Marie Thompson Detwiller, married and passed away only 4 months later at the age of twenty-two. Anne Marie’s brother James, shown as a young man in his portrait, served as First Lieutenant Company D of the First Pennsylvania Volunteers where he contracted a fatal strain of yellow fever in 1861.

On April 7, 2013 at 1:00pm Tom Burke will present “Moon Shining: Conserving the Portraits” sharing his experience with cleaning and preparing the portraits for exhibition.

“Many Moons Remembered” will be on exhibit in the Charles Chrin Gallery of the Sigal Museum from now to May 31, 2013 and is included in museum admission.