Artwork
Sophia Peabody Hawthorne was also an artist. She purposefully took up drawing in 1829 and attended drawing parties which copied the works of other artists. She tutored her daughter Rose in art as well.
During their courtship, Sophia created an illustration for Nathaniel's tale "The Gentle Boy". After completing it, Sophia asked him if it looked like the main character, Ilbrahim. He answered, "He will never look otherwise to me". The story was republished with Sophia's illustration as The Gentle Boy: A Thrice Told Tale in December 1838, subsidized by a Salem hostess named Susan Burley. The book was dedicated to Sophia, inscribed: "To Miss Sophia A. Peabody, this little tale, to which her kindred art has given value, is respectfully inscribed by the author". He later asked her to illustrate a reissue of his children's book Grandfather's Chair.
Read more about this topic: Sophia Hawthorne