Published November 25, 2019 by Bowdoin College Museum of Art

Museum of Art Object of the Month: “The Moon in First Quarter” by Lewis Morris Rutherfurd

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“The Moon in First Quarter,” 1865, vintage carbon print, by Lewis Morris Rutherfurd, American, 1816-1892, Museum purchase. Bowdoin College Museum of Art.

One of the most notable of the Museum’s many recent acquisitions is Lewis Rutherfurd’s photograph The Moon in the First Quarter. In the 1850s, Rutherfurd overcame significant technical difficulties in order to invent the first telescope specifically meant for photographing celestial bodies, as opposed to just viewing them. This telescope, which could rotate on two axes, produced negatives with revolutionary levels of detail, as it could actively track the movement of his subject through the night sky during longer exposures. This increased detail proved beneficial not only aesthetically, but also in academia, as this specific photograph was part of a portfolio from an astronomy course at a French polytechnic school.

Taken on March 6, 1865 in New York City, the photograph documents the moon at a pivotal time in American history. One month later the Civil War ended. President Lincoln’s assassination on April 15 would happen shortly thereafter. This quiet photograph contrasts with this turbulent period.

As a photographer myself, I find Rutherfurd’s work impressive. Creating a photograph similar to Rutherfurd’s today would still take significant specialized equipment and time. Surrounded by darkness, the moon’s surface, rendered through the carbon print’s tones and crisp textures, re-instills my child-like wonder about the moon, which will make its journey across the night sky tonight just as it did in 1865. It’s exciting to add this photograph – the first of its kind to enter the Museum’s collection – to the distinguished collection of photography at the Museum.

Niles Singer ’21
Student Curatorial Assistant, Bowdoin College Museum of Art