Sister Claire SMMI
Sister Marie Claire SMMI (1937 – 11 February 2018) was an artist and Catholic nun from Bangalore, India, with over 750 paintings and works of art to her name.[1] Her works are especially known for using Indian imagery in Christian scenes. As such, she is one of the few highly known contemporary Indian Christian artists.[2][3]
She was the second of nine children born in Andhra Pradesh. [4]Sr Claire converted from Hinduism; she joined the Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) when she was 17 years old after fleeing an arranged marriage. Sister Claire's artwork has been gifted to Pope John Paul II by Sr Jane Scaria, the first Indian superior general of SMMI.[5] Her works have also been featured in books,[6][7] posters,[8] blogs,[9] and Christmas Cards. Pope Benedict XVI invited her to the Vatican to be felicitated. She did not go, but the Pope sent a Cardinal to Bengaluru to honor her.[10]
References
- "Pentecost Art (India, Sister Claire)". Global Christian Worship.
- SJ, Anand Amaladass (19 September 2011). "Christian Themes in Indian Art from Mughal Times to the Present". Manohar Publishers – via Amazon.
- "India's noted nun painter dies". Mattersindia.com. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- Fuller, Theological Seminary (2018). "Collection 0064:Collection of Sr Claire, SMMI Biblical Art, 1980-2003". Digital Commons Fuller Education.
- "Q & A with Sr. Marie Claire, impressing popes with her paintings". Global Sisters Report. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- "Sr. Claire, SMMI: Biblical Posters". worldcat.org.
- Society, Bible (10 September 1988). "The Bible in Pictures TRILINGUAL Urdu, Sindhi and Parkari Language Comments by each Illustration Biblical Posters / Sr.M.Claire SMMI The Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad / Pakistan". Bible Society – via Amazon.
- "Guide to the Sr. Claire, SMMI: Biblical Posters". Oac.cdlib.org.
- "Christmas Story Art from India (Sr. Claire set 3)". Global Christian Worship.
- Shekhar, Divya. "Meet the 80-yr-old nun who paints & prints over 1,000 Christmas cards a year". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 August 2020.