ABBOTT H. THAYER MEMORIAL EXHIBITION CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART WASHINGTON, D. C. 1922 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/abbotththayermemOOthay_0 ayermi ( No. 33 ) Self-Portrait Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ABBOTT H. THAYER MEMORIAL EXHIBITION THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART WASHINGTON, D. C. From Tuesday, May 9 th, to Wednesday, May 31st, 1922, inclusive Hours of Opening: ON MONDAYS from 12:00 m. to 4:30 p. m.; ON OTHER WEEK DAYS FROM 9:00 A. M. TO 4:30 P. M.J ON SUNDAYS from 1:30 to 4:30 P. M. on may 30th from 10:00 a. m. to 2:00 p. m. Copyright, 1922 The Corcoran Gallery of PRESS OF GIBSON BROS., INC. WASHINGTON, D. C. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Charles C. Glover George E. Hamilton William A. Clark James Parmelee Henry White Rudolph Kauffmann C. Powell Minnigerode Thomas Nelson Page Robert V. Fleming OFFICERS President: Charles C. Glover Vice-President: Henry White Secretary and Director: C. Powell Minnigerode Treasurer: Robert V. Fleming Secretary to the Director. Emily P. Millard The Gallery desires to express its most grateful appreciation to the following owners of paintings by Mr. Thayer, who have so generously permitted these pictures to be included in the exhibition. John F. Braun, Esquire Timothy Cole, Esquire George J. Dyer, Esquire John Gellatly, Esquire Miss Mary Amory Greene Mrs. Hendrick S. Holden Estate of Walter Hunnewell Miss Louise Kane William Macbeth, Incorporated William W. Mathewson, Esquire Albert Milch, Esquire George S. Palmer, Esquire Mrs. Bruce Porter Smith College The Misses Clara F. and Bessie G. Stillman Estate of Abbott H. Thayer Wellesley College Mrs. E. M. Whiting An Anonymous Lender INTRODUCTION By Virgil Barker T he really important personalities of this time, now obscured by dust-clouds of opinions, will stand out sharp and clear when the air has been washed by the rain of years. As the dust is laid, it will become plain past all denial that Abbott Thayer was a personage as monumental and enduring as Monadnock itself. He was so by virtue of certain qualities which, occurring in just the combination they did, would have made him great in any age; in this they made him uniquely great. To portray him as an important painter is to fall short of the whole truth concerning him. It is more nearly adequate to point out that he was a great soul using paint as his means of communication. Though he was entirely aware of the sheer pleasure of manipulating pigment, his primary loyalty was given to that which it could express — which it must express if he were to labor with it to the end. He never belittled himself in any trivial game of "art for art's sake"; with him always paint was a language by which to convey something. And the medium gave him most satisfaction when it did not attract attention to itself but allowed the long-pondered conception to shine. He was spirit-brother to a certain Chinese painter whose work was done before the year 1370. This man, Wang Li, made many studies of Hua Mountain, but for a long time his efforts to paint his "idea" of that mountain came to nothing. Therefore, he says,* " . . . I brooded upon it in the quiet of my * As translated by Mr. Arthur Waley in The Burlington Magazine for August, 1921. [VII] INTRODUCTION house, on my walks abroad, in bed and at meals, at business, at concerts, in intervals of conversation and literary composi- tion. One day when I was resting I heard drums and flutes passing the door. I leapt up like a madman and cried 1 1 have got it ! ' Then I tore up my old sketches and painted it again. This time my only guide was Hua Mountain itself ..." Had Thayer lived long enough to see those words in print, his own heart would have leapt in sympathy and exultant under- standing; for some such psychological experience he must have had with old Monadnock. That is why the susceptible spectator, in looking at his painting, senses in it something more majestic than any momentary aspect of physical nature, a grandeur that has its source in the depths of all being. It is the same throughout the entire range of Thayer's mature achievement. A bowl of roses in his hands becomes more than a flower-piece; it is a glimpse into the very center of beauty. And Thayer's pictures of human beings do not, like the average portrait, show us people who may or may not be interesting, according as they are known to us or as they exhibit individuality; nor are his figure-pieces mere arrange- ments to satisfy the eye with the pattern they make on the canvas. Rather do they amaze us with glimpses of what is possible to our human kind at our best— the purity of girl- hood, the responsiveness of boyhood, the deep purposiveness of young manhood, the glory of womanhood. The finest line ever penned by Dr. Johnson is, "Thy soul completes the triumph of thy face." Thayer's pictures of women triumph in portraying the face and the soul as one. The secret of his angels is that they did not [viii] INTRODUCTION come down to us from some far-removed heaven but rose up from the midst of us and sit brooding on the mystery and the splendor of our human life. With such an attitude towards his art, with such aims dictating the form of his every creation, Thayer succeeded in expressing something above the reach of the majority who paint. In a generation for the most part content with tech- nical proficiency, he went beyond the making of pictures ; in an age of painters he was an artist. He brought to bear upon each task the weight and comprehensive force of a great mind. Working always in a style intensely personal, he never cheapened it by exploiting his personality. His paintings are not the clever product of an assertive egotism, but imaginative appre- hensions of hidden beauty. He spent his life in rendering not appearances but the reality behind appearances. The precise aspect under which he visualized that reality may be defined as spiritual nobility. Looking upon the visions which Thayer has bequeathed to us, we respond to them with the feeling which Carlyle wisely praised as good for man — the feeling of reverence. It is only fitting that a fair portion of that reverence should be directed toward their creator so recently among us ; but it is better, and more as Thayer would have it, that we should adore the art, the idea in the art, and by emotional contagion share its inspiriting power. The finest works of Thayer's hands possess the inexhaustible youth of spiritual beauty; along with the creations of the elder gods of art, they burn upwards — " Immortal incense out of mortal things." [IX] CATALOGUE CATALOGUE OF PAINTINGS 1 WINGED FIGURE 1912 Oil on Canvas: h. 50; w. 38 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1912. Illustrated. Lent by John F. Braun, Esquire. 2^ BERKSHIRE HILLS or LANDSCAPE WITH CATTLE 1879 A woodcut of this picture was made by Timothy Cole. Oil on canvas: h. 24; w. 32 inches. Signed and dated : A. H. Thayer 1879. Illustrated. Lent by Timothy Cole, Esquire. 3 PASTURE AND WOODLAND Oil on canvas: h. 27; w. 20 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer. Lent by Timothy Cole, Esquire. 4 HEAD OF A BOY 191S Townsend Martin. Oil on canvas: h. 21; w. 17 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Lent by George J. Dyer, Esquire. STEVENSON MEMORIAL 1903 Oil on canvas: h. 813^; w. 60 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1903. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. i ] CATALOGUE 6 PORTRAIT OF A LADY About 1920 Mrs. William B. Cabot of Boston. Oil on canvas: h. 39J/2; w. 32 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 190(?) (indistinct). Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 7 CORNISH HEADLANDS 1898 Near Saint Ives, Cornwall, England. One of the distant promontories is perhaps Gurnard's Head. Oil on canvas: h. 30; w. 40 inches. Signed and dated: Saint Ives 1898 A. H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 8 A BRIDE About 1895 Oil on canvas: h. 21; W. 17 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 9 BROTHER AND SISTER 1889 The artist's daughter Mary and son Gerald. Oil on canvas: h. 36; w. 28 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer New York 1889. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 10 MOTHER AND CHILD 1886 The artist's first wife, Kate Bloede Thayer, and his son Gerald, aged two years. Oil on canvas: h. 36; w. 28 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer Peekskill 1886. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 12] CATALOGUE 11 PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG LADY 1881 Oil on canvas: h. 20; w. 16 inches. Signed and dated: A. H. Thayer 1881. Illustrated. Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire. 12 GIRL IN WHITE 1888 or 1889 Margaret Greene of Boston; a descendant of the painter Copley. Oil on canvas: h. 373^; w. 29J/2 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by Miss Mary Amory Greene. 13 PORTRAIT OF BEATRICE 1902 Oil on canvas: h. 63; w. 32 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1902. Illustrated. Lent by Mrs. Hendrick S. Holden. 14 PORTRAIT 1897 Bessie Price. Clarke Prize, National Academy of Design. Oil on canvas: h. 28; w. 19J^ inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1897. Illustrated. Lent by Mrs. Hendrick S. Holden. 15 PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG GIRL 1891 Miss Mary Hunnewell of Wellesley (Mrs. Williams). Oil on canvas: h. 44; w. 31 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1891. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Walter Hunnewell. [3] CATALOGUE 16 ROSES About 1897 Oil on canvas: h. 25; w. 28^ inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Lent by Miss Louise Langdon Kane. 17 PORTRAIT OF MISS MATHEWSON About 1891 Oil on canvas: h. 24; w. 19 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by William W. Mathewson, Esquire. 18 PASSENGER PIGEONS 1868 Oil on canvas: h. 18; w. 14 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer 1868. Lent by Albert Milch, Esquire. 19 HEAD OF SHANDY 1901 Son of Dr. E. Channing Stowell, of Dublin and Marlboro, N. H. Oil on canvas: h. 21; w. 19 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Lent by George S. Palmer, Esquire. 20 PORTRAIT (Unfinished) 1908 Eleanor Fisher (Mrs. Laurence Grose), the artist's niece. Oil on panel: h. 36; w. 28 inches. Signed and dated : Abbott H. Thayer Monadnock 1908. Lent by Mrs. Bruce Porter. [4] CATALOGUE 21 WINGED FIGURE 1889 Oil on canvas: h. 503^; w. 36 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1889. Illustrated. Lent by Smith College. 22 PORTRAIT, LADY IN WHITE 1883 Miss Bessie Stillman. Oil on canvas: h. 36; w. 28 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer. Lent by the Misses Clara F. and Bessie G. Stillman. 23 THE SISTERS 1884 Miss Bessie and Miss Clara Stillman. Oil on canvas : h. 54}^ ; w. 36 inches. Signed : A. H. Thayer. Lent by the Misses Clara F. and Bessie G. Stillman. 24 BOY'S HEAD 1919 Oil on canvas: h. 29; w. 22 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer, 1919. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 25 SUNRISE— SAN REMO Oil on canvas: h. 37J^; w. 28 inches Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 26 YOUNG LADY IN WHITE Oil on canvass: h. 26; w. 20 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer, Monadnock, N. H. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. [5] CATALOGUE 27 BABY ASLEEP (a study) 1879 William Henry Thayer, 2nd; the artist's first son. Oil on canvas: h. 12J^; w. i6}/2 inches. .Signed: A. H. Thayer. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 28 GIRL ARRANGING HER HAIR About 1909 (Worked on again, 1921). A. E. W. (Mrs. GeraldThayer) . Oil on canvas: h. 25; w. 24 inches. Signed and dated: A. H. Thayer 1918. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 29 MONADNOCK ANGEL Oil on canvas: h. 91; w. 59J/2 inches. Thayer by E. B. T. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 30 GLADYS The artist's daughter. Oil on canvas: h. 25; w. 233^2 inches Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 31 PROFILE, YOUNG WOMAN About 1906 The artist's niece, Eleanor Fisher. Oil on panel: h. 203^; w. 15^ inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 1920 and 1921 Inscribed: A. H. About 1905 Signed: Abbott H. [6] CATALOGUE 32 PORTRAIT-STUDY About 1884 Oil on canvas: h. 29; w. 25 inches. Inscribed: A. H. Thayer by E. B. T. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 33 SELF PORTRAIT 1919 Oil on panel: h. 22; w. 24 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1919. Illustrated as frontispiece. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 34 WINTER SUNRISE, MOUNT MONADNOCK 1919 Oil on canvas: h. 53; w. 62 inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1919. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 35 BOY AND ANGEL About 1917 to 1920 Townsend Martin, boy in picture. Oil on panel : h. 61 ; w. 49 inches. Signed and dated : Abbott H. Thayer April 2, 1920. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 36 ANGEL OF DAWN About 1909 {Finished 1918) A. E. W. (Mrs. Gerald Thayer). Oil on canvas: h. 102}/~>; w. 62J^ inches. Signed and dated: Abbott H. Thayer 1919. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. [7] CATALOGUE 37 LADY IN GREEN VELVET About 1910 {Finished 1918) A. E. W. (Mrs. Gerald Thayer). Gold medal and first prize, International Exhibition, Car- negie Institute, Pittsburgh, 1919. Oil on canvas: h. 49J/2 5 w. 37 inches. Signed : Abbott H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer. 38 PORTRAIT OF ALICE FREEMAN PALMER President of Wellesley College, 1882-1887. Oil on canvas: h. 50; w. 36 inches. Signed: Abbott H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by Wellesley College. 39 PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST'S SISTER 1879 Sue Thayer (Mrs. E. M. Whiting). Oil on canvas: h. 23; w. 19 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent by Mrs. E. M. Whiting. 40 PORTRAIT OF A BOY 1905 Henry Thayer Whiting, the artist's nephew. Oil on canvas: h. 24J/2; w. 22J/2 inches. Signed and dated: begun 1903 Abbott H. Thayer Monadnock 1905. Illus- trated. Lent by Mrs. E. M. Whiting. 41 FIGURE, HALF-DRAPED About 1885 Oil on canvas: h. 713^; w. 48 inches. Signed : A. H. Thayer. Illustrated. Lent Anonymously. [8j CATALOGUE 42 STUDY HEAD OF A YOUNG GIRL Oil on canvas: h. 16; w. 13 inches. Signed: A. H. Thayer. DRAWINGS A comprehensive collection of ninety four water colors, drawings and sketches, is included in the exhibition, the indvidual titles of which are not listed in this catalogue. [9] ILLUSTRATIONS (No. 1 ) Winged Figure Lent by John F. Braun, Esquire (No. 2 ) Berkshire Hills or Landscape with Lent by Timothy Cole, Esquire ( No. 5 ) Stevenson Memorial Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire (No. 6 ) Portrait of a Lady Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire ( No. 7 ) Cornish Headlands Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire ( No. 8 ) A Bride Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire (No. 9) Brother and Sister Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire (No. 10) Mother and Child Lent by John Geliatly, Esquire (No. 11 ) Portrait of a Young Lady Lent by John Gellatly, Esquire (No. 12) Girl in White Lent by Miss Mary Amory Greene (No. 13) Portrait of Beatrice Lent by Mrs. Hendrick S. Holden (No. 14) Portrait Lent by Mrs. Hendrick S. Holden (No. 15) Portrait of a Young Girl Lent by the Estate of Walter Hunnewell (No. 17) Portrait of Miss Mathewson Lent by William W. Mathewson, Esquire ( No. 28 ) Girl Arranging Her Hair Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 29 ) Monadnock Angel Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer (No. 30) Gladys Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 34 ) Winter Sunrise, Mount Monadnock Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 35 ) Boy and Angel Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 36 ) Angel of Dawn Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 37 ) Lady in Green Velvet Lent by the Estate of Abbott H. Thayer ( No. 38 ) Portrait of Alice Freeman Palmer Lent by Wellesley College ( No. 39 ) Portrait of the Artist's Sister Lent by Mrs. E. M. Whiting ( No. 40 ) Portrait of a Boy Lent by Mrs. E. M. Whiting ( No. 41 ) Figure, Half-Draped Lent Anonymously