There is a romantic story told of Maria van Oosterwyck, as follows.  William van Aelst, the painter of exquisite pictures of still-life, fruits, glass, and objects in gold and silver, was a suitor for her hand.  She did not love him, but wishing not to be too abrupt in her refusal, she required, as a condition of his acceptance, that he should work ten hours a day during a year.  This he readily promised to do.  His studio being opposite that of Maria, she watched narrowly for the days when he did not work and marked them down on her window-sash.  At the close of the year Van Aelst claimed her as his bride, assuming that he had fulfilled her condition; but she pointed to the record of his delinquencies, and he could but accept her crafty dismissal of his suit.

OSENGA, GIUSEPPINA. This artist resides in Parma, and has there exhibited landscapes that are praised for their color and for the manner in which they are painted, as well as for the attractive subjects she habitually chooses.  “A View near Parma,” the “Faces of Montmorency,” and the “Bridge of Attaro” are three of her works which are especially admired.

OSTERTAG, BLANCHE. Member of Society of Western Artists; Arts Club, Chicago; Municipal Art League.  Born in St. Louis.  From 1892-1896 pupil of Laurens and Raphael Collin in Paris, where her works were hung on the line at the New Gallery, Champ de Mars.

A decorative artist who has executed mural decoration in a private house in Chicago, and has illustrated “Max Mueller’s Memories” and other publications.  For use in schools she made a color print, “Reading of the Declaration of Independence before the Army.”

Her calendars and posters are in demand by collectors at home and in foreign countries.  Miss Ostertag has designed elaborate chimney pieces to be executed in mosaic and glass.  Her droll conceits in “Mary and Her Lamb,” the “Ten Little Injuns,” and other juvenile tales were complimented by Boutet de Monvel, who was so much interested in her work that he gave her valuable criticism and advice without solicitation.

O’TAMA-CHIOVARA. Gold medal at an exhibition of laces in Rome and prizes at all the exhibitions held in Palermo by the Art Club.  Born in Tokio, where she came to the notice of Vicenzo Ragusa, a Sicilian sculptor in the employ of the Japanese Government at Tokio.  He taught her design, color, and modelling, and finally induced her to go with his sister to Palermo.  Here her merit was soon recognized in a varied collection of water-colors representing flowers and fruits, which were reproduced with surpassing truth.  When the School of Applied Art was instituted at Palermo in 1887, she was put in charge of the drawing, water-color, and modelling in the Women’s Section.

She knows the flowers of various countries—­those of Japan and Sicily wonderfully well, and her fancy is inexhaustible; her exquisite embroideries reflect this quality.  She has many private pupils, and is as much beloved for her character as she is admired for her talents.  When she renounced Buddhism for Christianity, the Princess of Scalca was her godmother.