Abbott Handerson Thayer, born August 12, 1849 in Boston, Massachusetts, and died May 29, 1921 in Monadnock, New Hampshire, was an important U.S. painter. His training began after school in New York, where he attended the Brooklyn Art School and later the National Academy of Design. Here he studied under the painters H. D. Morse and Lemuel Everett Wilmarth. During this time he married Kate Blöde, the daughter of Gustav Blöde.
As a young artist at the age of 25, Thayer moved to Paris in 1875 to continue his studies at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. He was a student of the famous artists Jean Leon Gerome and Henri Lehmann for three years. After returning to the United States in 1879, Thayer settled in New York as a freelance painter. Initially, his work focused primarily on landscape and animal paintings, inspired by the Barbizon School and the writings of American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over time, however, Thayer transformed himself into a sought-after portraitist. One of his earliest portraits was "The sisters," a celebrated double portrait of Clara and Bessie Stillman.
Thayer was elected an associate member of the National Academy of Design in New York in 1889 and a full member in 1901. Like his compatriot Douglas Volk, who was also a student of Jean-Léon Gérôme, Thayer was appointed a corresponding member of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. In 1901, Thayer moved with his family to Dublin, New Hampshire. In this rural seclusion he lived with his second wife, the flower painter Emma, and his children: Gerald, later a writer; Gladys, later a miniature painter; and Mary, who often served as a model for him. During this time, Thayer corresponded extensively with such notables as Charles Lang Freer, Theodore Roosevelt, and Mark Twain.
Together with his son Gerald, Thayer published the book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom: An Exposition of the Laws of Disguise Through Color and Pattern in 1909. In this work, he put forth theories of camouflage in the animal kingdom, for which he was publicly criticized by former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Nevertheless, in 1915 Thayer saw an opportunity to put his theoretical ideas into practice. He proposed camouflaging submarines in a manner similar to fish, such as mackerel, and painting ships white to make them "invisible." Although his ideas were considered by the Admiralty, they were dismissed, along with the proposals of John Graham Kerr, as "freak methods of painting ships ... Of academic interest, but of no practical use." Nevertheless, his findings contributed to the development of new camouflage methods, which were used from World War I onward under the name "Dazzle camouflage".
Abbott Thayer died in Monadnock on May 29, 1921, at the age of 70. His artistic legacy is impressive and Thayer is considered one of the most important US painters of his time. His works, whether landscapes, animal paintings, or portraits, are a testament to his extraordinary talent and masterful technique. His contributions to the theory of camouflage and its application to military practice are also significant. Although he was not always recognized in his time, he is now recognized as one of the great pioneers of American art history.
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.jpg "Roses by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Tiger")
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.jpg "Winged Figure by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "The Sisters by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Brother and Sister Mary and Gerald Thayer by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Flamingoes, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sphinx Caterpillar, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom, n.d. by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "The Sky Simulated by Red Flamingoes, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Red Flamingoes, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Photo of marsh, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Portrait of the Artist")
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.jpg "Heterocampa Biundata, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Birch Leaf Edge Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Lunar Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "2 Rush stencils, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Portrait of the Artist")
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.jpg "Male Wood Duck in a Forest Pool, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom, c. 1905-1 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Zebras, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Tattooing--Single Warrior, Study Folder for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Birch Leaf Edge Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roseate Spoonbill, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Birch Leaf Edge Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Emma Beach Thayer")
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.jpg "N. American Indians, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Copperhead Snake on Dead Leaves, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Lunar Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sunrise or Sunset, study for book, Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom, ca. 1905-1909 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Girl Arranging Her Hair by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Study for Seated Angel by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Woman in Green Velvet by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Against Sky--Arabs, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Red Flamingoes, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roseate Spoonbills, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Head, 1888-89 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Hawkmoth on tree trunk, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Lunar Caterpillar, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Village Street, Dominica by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Heterocampa Biundata, Walker, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Slide this grey card..., study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sunrise or Sunset, study for book, Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sphinx Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Woman in Grecian Gown by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Antelopes, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Abbott Handerson Thayer, Self-Portrait by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "The Sky Simulated by White Flamingoes, study for book, Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Blue Jays in Winter, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roseate Spoonbills, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "The Sky Simulated by White Flamingoes Study for Book in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Oligocentra Lignicolor, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Standing Woman by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Stevenson Memorial by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Diana, 1893-96 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "White Flamingoes, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sphinx Caterpillar, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1604793).jpg "Portrait of a Lady (Mrs. William B. Cabot) by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Dublin Pond, New Hampshire by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Kalinga Warriors and N. American Indians, study folder for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Heterocampa Biundata, Walker, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Azores by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Blue Jays in Winter, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Angel by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Lunar Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Heterocampa Biundata, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Heterocampa Biundata, Walker, Study for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1099587).jpg "My Children, c.1896-1910 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Mount Monadnock, c.1911-14 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "My Children Mary, Gerald, and Gladys Thayer, ca. 1897 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "The Sisters by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Head of a Boy, 1919 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sphinx Caterpillar, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Virgin Enthroned, 1891 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Angel by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Cornish Headlands, 1898 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "A Winged Figure by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Portrait of the Artist")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-20506).jpg "My Children (Mary, Gerald, and Gladys Thayer) by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Mount Monadnock by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Winged Figure, 1889 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Stencil Ducks, Study Folder for Book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roseate Spoonbill, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roses by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Self-Portrait by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Winged Figure by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Oligocentra Lignicolor, Walker, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Copperhead Snake on Dead Leaves, study for book Concealing Coloration in the Animal Kingdom by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "West Indies by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Self-Portrait by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Frog by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Winged Figure by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "A Bride by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Chadwick")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1558450).jpg "My Children (Mary, Gerald, and Gladys Thayer) by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sketch of Monadnock Mountain by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady Mrs. William B. Cabot by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "West Indies by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Hebe by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Sketch of Monadnock Mountain by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Self-Portrait by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Cornish Headlands by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Hebe, c1890 by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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.jpg "Roses by Abbott Handerson Thayer")
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