Stevenson Memorial

In this post we will analyze

Abbott Handerson Thayer’s painting titled Stevenson’s Memorial, which was a dedication to the late writer Robert Lewis Stevenson. We will briefly discuss some of Stevenson’s literary works that may have influenced Thayer, and other artworks by Abbott Handerson Thayer, to gain a better understanding of this piece in relation to his career as a whole.

Stevenson’s Memorial by
Abbott Handerson Thayer

Title	Stevenson’s Memorial
Artists	Abbott Handerson Thayer
Medium	Oil
Date	1903
Location	Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Abbott Handerson Thayer

Abbott Handerson Thayer created this painting in 1903 following the death of the renowned Scottish writer Robert Lewis Stevenson. The VAEA on the headstone is subtle but intentional, used as a marker to locate Stevenson’s grave on Mount Vaea in Samoa. As a writer, Stevenson touched on topics like war, grief, and life’s mysteries, all of which had an impact on Henderson as a painter and as an individual. This painting presents itself as an appreciation for Stevenson’s work, as a luminous and heartfelt moment of grief, and a reflection on memory and loss for the painter. Read more about this painting at the Smithsonian’s website here.

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.