Charles James Sindelar (27 May 1875 – 15 May 1947) was an American illustrator and painter, who in later life focused on religious art. Sindelar established a reputation for himself in graphic design and illustration during the first quarter of the 20th century through his favourably reviewed creation of a number of menu cover designs produced for a series of events referred to as the

Lotos Club The Lotos Club was founded in 1870 as a gentlemen's club in New York City; it has since also admitted women as members. Its founders were primarily a young group of writers and critics. Mark Twain, an early member, called it the "Ace of Clubs". ...

dinners, in New York City. The guest lists for the events included four U.S. presidents and other notables of the time, including writer

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

. Sindelar's covers incorporated a likeness of the celebrity who was being feted at the event, accompanied by intricate detailing. In the 1930s and 1940s, along with May DaCamara (1894-1976), Sindelar produced artwork for the "I AM" Activity of the Saint Germain Foundation. In 1940, Sindelar was one of the defendants in the I AM mail fraud trial, specifically concerning the group's claim that Jesus had personally sat for his portrait by Sindelar. The Ballards stated that other "Ascended Masters", including the Count of St. Germain, also posed for Sindelar, and further claimed that Sindelar was the reincarnation of

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 14522 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, Drawing, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially res ...

. Gerald Barbee Bryan gave Sindelar credit for the portrait of the Count of St. Germain which was displayed on stage during services of the I AM movement. Norman Robert Westfall, writing as "Mah Atmah Amsumata", gave Sindelar credit for two more portraits, one of Jesus Christ, the other of

Maitreya Maitreya (Sanskrit: ) or Metteyya (Pali: ), also Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha, is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. As the 5th and final Buddha of the current kalpa, Maitreya's teachings will be aimed at ...

. Sindelar was personally acquitted of the charges against him. From 1936 to March 1942, Charles Sindelar published and assisted in the production of ''The Voice of the I AM'' monthly magazine, as well as doing the artwork, at Sindelar Studios, 2600 S. Hoover Street, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.Saint Germain Foundation. ''The History of the "I AM" Activity and Saint Germain Foundation''. Schaumburg, Illinois: Saint Germain Press 2003

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sindelar, Charles American illustrators 1947 deaths 1875 births