Josefina de Vasconcellos (1904–2005) was an extraordinary British sculptor of Brazilian-English descent, whose long career spanned nearly a century. Known for her deeply emotive works that captured the essence of reconciliation, peace, and human suffering, her art
reflected the complexities of her own life and the turbulent world around her. Through her sculptures, Josefina sought to express a universal message of love, healing, and compassion.
Born in 1904, Surrey, Josefina was the daughter of a Brazilian diplomat and an English Quaker mother. This rich cultural background exposed her to a variety of artistic, philosophical, and spiritual traditions from an early age. Her father, deeply religious, introduced her to Catholicism, while her mother’s Quaker beliefs instilled in her a strong sense of peace and social justice, two themes that would later permeate her work. This combination of influences helped to shape Josefina’s sensitivity to human emotions, social issues, and the healing power of art.
Josefina’s formal artistic education began at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London, and later at the Royal Academy of Arts. She also studied sculpture in Paris under the mentorship of Antoine Bourdelle, a renowned student of Auguste Rodin. Her early works were grounded in classical training, but as her career progressed, she developed a style that was less focused on traditional aesthetics and more centred on the emotional resonance of her pieces. Josefina’s sculptures became deeply symbolic, using the human form to communicate complex ideas about pain, reconciliation, and the capacity for renewal.
In 1930 she was drawn to the artist Delmar Banner, who was also an Anglican lay priest, and whom she later married. He led her to be baptised into the Anglican church, a faith that has run through much of her art. They adopted two boys, and the family settled in a farmhouse in Langdale at the heart of the Lakes. She carved in an outhouse at the farm while Delmar painted dramatic landscapes from the summits of the Lakeland fells.
One of Josefina’s most iconic works, Reconciliation, reflects her lifelong dedication to promoting peace and healing. Created in 1977, this sculpture depicts two figures embracing after a long separation. The figures are intentionally androgynous, representing not specific individuals but the universal desire for forgiveness and unity. Originally commissioned for St.Michael’s Cathedral in Coventry—a city that had been heavily bombed during World War II—the sculpture has since become an international symbol of post-war reconciliation. Today, copies of Reconciliation can be found in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan, the Berlin Wall Memorial in Germany, and Stormont in Northern Ireland, each location representing significant moments of historical division and the subsequent desire for healing.
Another of Josefina’s well-known works is The Hand, a large bronze sculpture located at Lancaster University. This powerful piece, with its outstretched hand, symbolizes support, compassion, and the human capacity for kindness. It stands as a reminder of our shared responsibility to offer help to those in need, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Like much of her work, The Hand captures both the vulnerability and the strength of the human condition, themes that resonate across her artistic career.
Josefina’s belief in forgiveness and redemption of suffering, influenced her work and she often spoke about how her personal tragedies—such as the death of her beloved husband—profoundly influenced her art. Delmar’s death in 1983 marked a turning point in Josefina’s life, and her later works reflect a deeper contemplation of grief, loss, and the solace that comes through love and reconciliation.
Her work resonated with people across the globe, transcending cultural and national boundaries, her sculptures exhibited internationally. Her commissions were highly sought after by churches, universities, and public spaces. She continued to create well into her 90s, her hands still shaping clay and casting bronze when most would have long since retired and she lived to be over 100 years old.
Josefina’s conveyed a message of hope through art, demonstrating that even in the face of conflict and suffering, reconciliation is always possible. Her work continues to inspire new generations, reminding us of the enduring importance of empathy, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love.