Abbott Handerson Thayer was an American artist, teacher and naturalist. He used his children as models, this may be a lady he knew. It is from 1889.
As a painter of portraits, figures, animals and landscapes, he enjoyed prominence during his lifetime, his paintings are represented in the major American art collections. He is perhaps best known for his ‘angel’ paintings
Along with his son, he wrote book about camouflage which had a great impact on WWI and probably all military since, having studied birds and other animals and how they protect themselves with colors.
He began painting and studied nature as a teen, went to Paris. He was an eccentric, his children didn’t go to school and they enjoyed sleeping outdoors in the fresh air.
Rebecca Jones
On Angel's Wings 