In 1909, Berta Hummel was born in the small village of Massing, located in green Bavaria about 100 kilometers from Munich. Her talent for drawing became apparent at an early age when classmates asked her to draw them. Her family also recognized her talent. Her parents were immensely proud of her and made it possible for her to study at the art academy in Muchnen. Even at the academy she stood out for her great talent.
Her works are diverse: flower still lifes, portraits, landscape and cityscapes. Her teachers at the academy would like her to continue her career as an artist, but she makes a different choice. After her first period of study, she decides to enter the Franciscan Convent in Siessen (near Lake Constance). She is given the Catholic name Maria Innocentia. At the Convent, she is surrounded by many children. She teaches drawing and she herself draws many children around her. She notices that this brings joy to the children, but also to her fellow sisters; times are not easy.
The first drawings are printed at Ars Sacra, a religious printing house, and in 1934 the first booklet is published by Fink Publishers with her children’s drawings. This booklet is a great success in Germany: Sr. Hummel’s drawings move many people. Thus Wilhelm Goebel, owner of the Goebel Porzellanfabrik in Roedental also sees the booklet with the beautiful works. He does not think twice and sets off for the convent in Siessen.
There he meets Sr. Hummel and tells her that he is very impressed with her works and asks her permission to make porcelain figurines based on her drawings. Sr. Hummel hesitates, but finally gives permission to make a prototype. And so it happens: the little boy with the violin and the little dog by his side becomes the very first Hummel ever made.
Sr. Hummel is positively surprised by the beautiful result achieved by the employees of the porcelain factory. She gives her consent and to this day the figurines are made after her drawings. The manufacture of the Hummel figurines is traditional German handicraft. Sadly, Sr. Hummel passed away at the age of 37, but the Monastery and her family care for her legacy. The famous Hummel figurines are still made in Roedental in 2014 by the Hummel Manufaktur GmbH.
Are you interested in her drawings and paintings please watch the movie about the Hummel Exposition in Valkenburg to be found under -media- on this site
or go to our extensive Hummel collection:
