Woman of the Century/Blanche Dillaye

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2271409Woman of the Century — Blanche Dillaye

DILLAYE, Miss Blanche, artist, was born in Syracuse, N. Y. She is the daughter of the late Stephen Dillaye, of Syracuse, whose writings on paper money and the tariff won him an enviable reputation. From early childhood Miss Dillaye showed unusual talent from drawing and a genuine artistic appreciation of pictures. So marked was her ability and so strong her desire to Ik- an artist, that she vv;is allowed to devote a year to the study of BLANCHE DILLAYE. drawing. About that time an opportunity to teach drawing in a young ladies' school in Philadelphia was opened to her, and she was thus enabled to pursue her art studies for several years in the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Her preference for black and white was the source of much concern to her in her early art days. She took one lesson of Stephen Ferrier in the technique of etching. It seemed so simple that she unhesitatingly sent in her name as a contributor to an exhibition to be held in the Academy of Fine Arts, and went so far as to order her frame. She knew little of the vicissitudes of the etcher, but she was on the way to learn, for, when the exhibition opened, her labor was represented only by an underbitten plate, an empty frame, the name in the catalogue of a never-finished etching, and the knowledge that etching represents patient labor as well as inspiration. The same year Stephen Parrish came to her rescue, and by his counsel and assistance enabled her to uork with insight and certainty. She has contributed to all of the leading exhibitions of this country. Her etchings have also In-en favorably received abroad. In the rage for etchings that has prevailed during the past few years Miss Dillaye has never condescended to degrade the art to popular uses, but has maintained that true painter-etcher's style which first brought her into notice. Her impressions are vivid and marked by a strong originality. Her ambition is not satisfied to travel in the single track of an etcher. Her studio on South Penn Square, Philadelphia, shows talent in various other directions. Her illustrations and manuscripts have found their way into several leading magazines.