Sister Mary Rufinia (born Amalia Mathilde Kloke) (October 24, 1881 – October 10, 1959) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

-born

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

nun and painter.

Life

She was born in Kalkum and raised in Kohlschlade, a hamlet near

Wissen Wissen is a town in the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Sieg, approximately 12 km northeast of Altenkirchen. Wissen is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") ...

, where her father worked as

forester A forester is a person who practises forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including ecological restoration and management of protected areas. Foresters manage forests to ...

. Sister Mary Rufinia, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, received early art instruction in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

before emigrating to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, where she began work as a nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital in

Lafayette Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to: People * Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette * House of La Fayette, a French noble family ** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757� ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

, in 1906. After a back injury suffered while lifting a large patient onto a bed in 1920 she gradually abandoned nursing for painting, eventually becoming a teacher. From 1930 to 1931 she studied at the

School of the Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private art school associated with the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to an art students' cooperative founded in 1866, which grew into the museum and ...

, where she received a bachelor of fine arts degree. In 1936 she studied with

Wayman Adams Wayman Elbridge Adams (September 23, 1883 – April 7, 1959) was an American painter best known for his portraits of famous people. His skill at painting at high speed earned him the nickname 'Lightning'. Life He was born in Muncie, Indiana, and ...

, before receiving her master of fine arts degree from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

in 1938. She also studied at

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private, Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th-centu ...

and the

Cleveland School of Art The Cleveland Institute of Art, previously Cleveland School of Art, is a private college focused on art and design and located in Cleveland, Ohio. History The college was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women, at fir ...

, and took lessons under V. J. Cariani. She taught in Lafayette for many years, both privately and at St. Francis High School, where she taught watercolor painting, pottery, and sculpture. She also wrote for ''School Arts Magazine''. She exhibited widely during her career, including at numerous

Hoosier Salon The Hoosier Salon is an annual juried art exhibition that features the work of Indiana artists and provides them with an outlet to market their work. The Hoosier Salon Patron's Association, the nonprofit arts organization that organizes the event, ...

s,"Three Prize Pictures at Salon Here", ''Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, 4 April 1938
/ref> and won a number of prizes as well. A collection of her work is in the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, which mounted an exhibition dedicated to her work in 2011. Sister Mary Rufinia favored still lifes and religious scenes for subject matter, and worked in oil and watercolor. She is best known for her 1936 painting ''The Old Carpenter''.

References

External links

*
photo of ''The Old Carpenter''
1881 births 1959 deaths German emigrants to the United States American women painters 20th-century American painters 20th-century American women artists 20th-century American Roman Catholic nuns People from Lafayette, Indiana Painters from Indiana School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni Syracuse University alumni DePaul University alumni Cleveland School of Art alumni Catholics from Indiana {{US-painter-1880s-stub