About Robert Lewis Stevenson

Stevenson’s writing spans across many genres including fiction, poetry, and romance. His most notable text is his gothic novel: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This story is one that focuses on the human unconscious, the hidden shadow self, and the ways that shadow can present itself in sinister ways. As a writer, he is as creative as he is complex, creating strange tales and characters that are difficult to face, and his curiosity about the human condition invites readers to consider their own inner experiences with the external world. 

Thayer resonated deeply with Stevenson’s writing, whose works often tackled the complexities of life and the human condition. Having experienced immense despair and loss, Thayer’s memorial for Stevenson works as an emblem to mysteries of life and grief, as well as a meditation on memory. Many of Thayer’s paintings reflect on the loss of his wife and children, capturing them in colorful and dramatic scenes, but he is widely known for his collection of ‘angel’ paintings completed during his lifetime. Stevenson Memorial in particular is one of his most popular angle paintings and was one of his critically acclaimed works at the time of its inception.