Blades, Daisy - portrait of a child

This attractive miniature portrait of a young girl is signed "D Blades", probably for Daisy Blades (1858-1936).

Daisy Blades was miniature painter to HRH Princess Victoria. The sitter is unknown. 28

Recently, I have been forwarded by a kind visitor a lot more information about Daisy Blades, as shown in this newspaper cutting and funeral notice.

The visitor also owns several miniatures by Daisy Blades and two of them are shown here.

As can be seen from those images, she was born in Guernsey, Channel Islands, in 1858, the daughter of Colonel Joel Blades of the Royal Artillery, who was the last commanding officer in charge of the The Battery on the Bayle at Folkstone.

One miniature portrait is of him in uniform, but the other sitter is unknown.




Guernsey was where Daisy studied first and then under M Bother in Paris.

She painted a portrait of Queen Victoria which was exhibited in 1887 and also portraits of various other distinguished people.

The secret referred to was apparently a method of using black and white brushwork.

She exhibited at the Royal Academy and the New Gallery.

Her married name was Mrs Mary Jane Myers, so it appears that Daisy Blades was her nickname. She died at age 78, presumably in 1936, at Folkstone, Kent, England.

Since adding the above information, I have been contacted by another kind visitor related to Daisy Blades who has sent me the following extra information. "I am researching into my family history. Daisy's youngest sister, Constance M Blades, who was born in 1878 married Michael J Levenston 1856-1904. Michael was the first manager of the Trafalgar Theatre in London, which later became the Duke of York Theatre. The stage name of Constance was Kitty Gordon, a silent film star before the First World War. Michael and Constance had a daughter who was called Vera. The picture in the miniature of the lady could be Daisy's niece Vera dated around 1905. Daisy's real name was Mary J Blades, her father was born in Spalding, Lincolnshire in 1827, the son of a baker. He joined the army and rose through the ranks to Major and retired in 1882 with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on full pay."

Later - another visitor has provided yet more information;
Joel Blades produced quite an interesting family. The sons generally went into the army.   One was awarded the D.S.O. in WW1- for leadership-not heroism. Three of the daughters became well known for various reasons. Daisy was an artist. Minnie was an  actress and then there is the one that interests me. Thanks to an NZ authoress I am able to pinpoint Maud's whereabouts in 1899. She was at the Ladysmith Hospital during the Siege and as a result was awarded the Royal Red Cross. Her husband at that time had an uncle who went "broke' in Christchurch in the 1860's. Her father-in law, brother to the fellow who went to Christchurch, lived until 1916, went to Port Phillip in the 1840s but decided to make a career in the Indian Army, so as you see the family spread out into most crannies of the Empire. Another uncle-to her husband at that time-disgraced himself -in the family's eyes, by marrying a Maori.   He died and was "planted' at Wanganui. Maud divorced her husband after producing a daughter. She then married Herbert Walton a Johannesberg barrister and had three more children. 

September 2019
A kind visitor has provided more information on Daisy Blades.

Evidence shows, and by my late grandfathers shared stories and accounts, that I am the great grandson of Mary Jane James, formally Daisy Blades. My mother was Evelyn Catherine James, daughter of Charles Lawrence James, who was the son of Mary Jane James formally Blades (Declaration attached) as well as Notice of Exhibits under the name Daisy Blades – Mrs. James.

May I share a childhood memory related to the secret black and white brush stoke technique that Daisy Blades learnt from an unknown French Artist.  During cherished evenings in my early youth, in front of the fire place, my Grandfather (Charles Lawrence James) taught me how to draw. During these inspired evening he recalled the days with his mother (Daisy Blades) in her studio where she would mix the secret mixture of black paint. She would tell him that this secret technique could never be revealed as she had given her word to the French Artist never to reveal the secret. When she finally sadly passed-on, the secret died with her.

My prized art possession is a remarkable piece of art painted by Daisy in her secret black and white technique. I attach a copy for your kind viewing. Just some additional information, the black and white brush stroke painting of, 'Mother & Child' is 20/25 ins. in size. A truly exquisite piece of art.  I trust that this information might offer some pleasure to concerned or interested parties.