SisterJulia Bridget Lynch

Evening Post
Death of Julia B. Lynch, noted Artist and Nun
one of New Zealand's most celebrated and prolific portrait painters, Julia B. Lynch (Sister Mary Lawrence) died in hospital this morning.
Sister Lawrence had been with the Sisters of Mercy for 51 years and was attached to St Mary's College in Wellingtonfor her whole of this time.
In between teaching art to pupils at St Mary's College Sister Lawrence gave outside art lessons,won the portrait sections of the Kelliher art exhibition and exhibited at the Paris Salon.
Born in Tokomaru her family moved to Palmeston North where she was given a grounding in drawing by art master G.H.Elliot.
Following that Julia Lynch spent two years at the Slade School of Art in England winning first prize for her portraiture at the end of her course.
Though best known for her portrait painting - from pupils to All Blacks and Jean Batten- Sister Lawrence also did pottery, wookcuts, copperengraving and sculpture. A 10 foot statue of Our Lady of Mercy designed and made by her hands hangs in the Hill Street Convent Chapel. Much of Sister Lawrence's work was done for charities, and her paintings contributed a lot of money for the recently opened Colled gymnasium.