Angel (1887)

Abbott Handerson Thayer, born in Boston in 1849, is renowned for his idealistic and allegorical paintings, often depicting women as angels and madonnas. A key figure in the New York art world in the late 19th century, Thayer's work is characterized by its spiritual quality and embodiment of beauty, influenced by his personal tragedies, including the loss of his first wife. He is also noted for his contributions to the field of camouflage through his book "Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom," laying foundations for camouflage techniques in World War I. Thayer's later years were spent in Dublin, New Hampshire, where he joined a colony of artists and cultural figures and lived a simpler life with his family, continuing to create art that reflected his deep engagement with nature and spirituality.