Artist. Best known for her artwork displayed on Hummel figurines. At an early age, she was a gifted caricaturist. Her love for life and the innocence of children are reflected in her art work. When Berta was 12, she was accepted at the Institute of English Sisters. It was here where she really developed her skills and talents. At age 16, she had been accepted at the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich. Berta chose to live with the nuns instead of in the dormitory. Living with the nuns, she met two Franciscan sisters who had a passion for religion and the arts. In 1931, Berta joined the Franciscan Sisters' Convent of Siessen, in Wurttemberg, Germany. In 1934, she became Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The convent at Siessen was in need of earning more money and decided to send Sister Maria's artwork to a publishing firm. They liked her work and immediately started producing postcards. The company produced a book of her work to sell. One purchaser of the book worked at a company owned by Franz Goebel. This employee convinced Goebel to use her drawings to make figurines. It was in 1935 at the Leipzig Fair that her work really went public and became very popular. Goebel wanted to produce figurines on a larger scale, but needed to convince Mother Augustine of the Convent at Siessen. She gave her approval as long as Hummel's name would always be associated with the figurines and portrayed in a good light. Today a percentage of the profits from the Hummel figurines goes to the Convent at Siessen. Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel contracted tuberculosis and died in 1946.
Artist. Best known for her artwork displayed on Hummel figurines. At an early age, she was a gifted caricaturist. Her love for life and the innocence of children are reflected in her art work. When Berta was 12, she was accepted at the Institute of English Sisters. It was here where she really developed her skills and talents. At age 16, she had been accepted at the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich. Berta chose to live with the nuns instead of in the dormitory. Living with the nuns, she met two Franciscan sisters who had a passion for religion and the arts. In 1931, Berta joined the Franciscan Sisters' Convent of Siessen, in Wurttemberg, Germany. In 1934, she became Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel. The convent at Siessen was in need of earning more money and decided to send Sister Maria's artwork to a publishing firm. They liked her work and immediately started producing postcards. The company produced a book of her work to sell. One purchaser of the book worked at a company owned by Franz Goebel. This employee convinced Goebel to use her drawings to make figurines. It was in 1935 at the Leipzig Fair that her work really went public and became very popular. Goebel wanted to produce figurines on a larger scale, but needed to convince Mother Augustine of the Convent at Siessen. She gave her approval as long as Hummel's name would always be associated with the figurines and portrayed in a good light. Today a percentage of the profits from the Hummel figurines goes to the Convent at Siessen. Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel contracted tuberculosis and died in 1946.
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