The Life and Genius of Nathaniel HawthorneStearns, Frank Preston
General
The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne
Stearns, Frank Preston
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864; Novelists, American -- 19th century -- Biography
Hawthorne had no more vanity in his nature than is requisite to preserve
a good appearance in public, but he always sat for his portrait when
asked to do so, and this was undoubtedly the most sensible way. He was
first painted by Charles Osgood in 1840, a portrait which has at least
the merit of a fine poetic expression. He was afterward painted by
Thompson, Healy, and Emanuel Leutze, and drawn in crayon by Rowse and
Eastman Johnson. Frances Osborne also painted a portrait of him from
photographs in 1893, an excellent likeness, and notable especially for
its far-off gaze. Of all these, Rowse’s portrait is the finest work of
art, for Rowse was a man of genius, but there is a slight tendency to
exaggeration in it, and it does not afford so clear an idea of Hawthorne
as he was, as the Osborne portrait. Healy was not very successful with
Hawthorne, and Miss Lander’s bust has no merit whatever. The following
list contains most of the portraits and photographs of Hawthorne now
known to exist, with their respective ownerships and locations.
Oil portrait painted by Charles Osgood, in 1840. Owned by Mrs. Richard
C. Manning.
Crayon portrait drawn by Eastman H. Johnson, in 1846. Owned by Miss
Alice M. Longfellow.
Oil portrait painted by George P. A. Healy, in 1850. Now in the
possession of Kirk Pierce, Esq.
Oil portrait by Miss H. Frances Osborne, after a photograph by Silsbee,
Case & Co., Boston.
Crayon portrait drawn by Samuel W. Rowse, in 1866. Owned by Mrs. Annie
Fields.
Engraving after the portrait painted in 1850 by Cephas G. Thompson.
Owned by Hon. Henry C. Leach.
The Grolier Club bronze medallion, made in 1892, by Ringel d’Illzach.
Owned by B. W. Pierson.
Cabinet photograph, bust, by Elliott & Fry, London. Owned by Mrs.
Richard C. Manning.
Card photograph, full length, seated, with book in right hand, by Black
& Case, Boston.
Cabinet photograph, three-quarter length, standing beside a pillar, copy
by Mackintire of the original photograph.
Card photograph, three-quarter length, seated, from Warren’s
Photographic Studio, Boston.
Card photograph, bust, by Brady, New York, with autographic signature.
Owned by Hon. Henry C. Leach.
Bust in the Concord (Massachusetts) Public Library, by Miss Louise
Lander.
Card photograph, bust, from Warren’s Photographic Studio, Boston. Owned
by Mrs. Richard C. Manning.
Oil portrait by Emanuel Leutze, painted in April, 1852. Owned by Julian
Hawthorne.
Photograph by Mayall, London. The so-called “Motley photograph.”
Two photographs by Brady, full length; one seated, the other standing.
Photograph showing Hawthorne, Ticknor and Fields standing together.
_Editions of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Books published under his own
Direction_
Fanshawe: A Tale, Boston, 1828. Twice-Told Tales, Boston, 1837.
Another edition, Boston, 1842.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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