Josefina de Vasconcellos
Encyclopedia
Josefina Alys Hermes de Vasconcellos (26 October 1904 – 20 July 2005) was an English sculptor of Brazilian origin. She was at one time the world's oldest living sculptor. She lived in Cumbria
much of her working life. Her most famous work includes Reconciliation (Coventry Cathedral
, University of Bradford
); Holy Family (Liverpool Cathedral
, Gloucester Cathedral
); Mary and Child (St. Paul's Cathedral); and Nativity (at Christmas) at St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Trafalgar Square
).
ian diplomat
who helped ensure Josefina was able to develop her artistic talents through a childhood shared between England
and Brazil
. In 1921 she gained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Art, studying with William Macmillan
. At the age of 19 she was accepted to the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
in Paris
, where she studied under Antoine Bourdelle
, one of Auguste Rodin
's assistants. Before returning to Britain, she also studied with Libero Andreotti
in Florence
.
contest. That same year she met the artist Delmar Banner, who was also an Anglican lay priest, and whom she married in 1930. He led her to be baptized into the Anglican church, a faith that has run through much of her artistic work. They adopted two boys, and the family settled in a farmhouse at The Bield in Little Langdale
at the heart of the Lake District
. She carved in an outhouse at the farm while Banner painted dramatic landscapes from the summits of the Lakeland fells. In 1967, through associations with Pelham House in West Cumbria, the family helped found Outpost Emmaus, an Outward Bound
-type centre for disadvantaged boys at Beckstones in the Duddon Valley
.
In 1975, she initiated the founding of The Harriet Trust, on the shores of the Duddon Estuary
at Millom
so that disabled children could enjoy nature holidays within a purpose-built dwelling; the modified former fishing trawler The Harriet was used as a recreation space. It was such work that led to de Vasconcellos being honoured in 1985 with the MBE
.
Throughout her life de Vasconcellos undertook numerous large commissions that were vehicles for her flowing, naturalistic style of carving. At times this contrasted with fashion, for example the period where mainstream sculptured art was toying with the more abstract styles of Henry Moore
and Barbara Hepworth
. Although raised as an atheist, de Vasconcellos' works were frequently religious. Much of her sculpture can be found in parish churches and cathedrals around Britain, including St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Michael's, Coventry
, as well as cathedrals in Blackburn
, Bristol
, Carlisle
, Gloucester
, Liverpool
, Norwich
and parishes such as St Bees Priory
and St Mary's Church, Warrington
De Vasconcellos' first commissioned work was in 1924 for the Church of Saint Valéry in Varengeville-sur-Mer
, Normandy
, which included a life-sized reclining figure of Saint Valéry
under the stone altar.
After the Second World War, she created several war memorials, including the Prince of Peace (1950) in Aldershot
(repaired in 1998); The Last Chimera (1950), for the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh
; and The Hand (1955) for the St. Bees' School in Cumbria
. In 1955, with the help of students from St. Paul's School, she created Mary and Child, a work that appears in the crypt
of St. Paul's. Beginning in 1959, she was commissioned by the vicar
of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to construct an annual Nativity scene
made of life-sized figures, which became a regular fixture of the Christmas
display in Trafalgar Square
in London.
In 1977, the faculty of peace studies at Bradford University commissioned a sculpture that de Vasconcellos entitled Reunion. After its restoration in 1994 it was renamed Reconciliation
. In 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, bronze casts of this sculpture were placed in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral
and in the Hiroshima Peace Park in Japan. An additional cast can be found on the grounds of Stormont Castle
in Belfast
. To mark the opening of the rebuilt German Reichstag (parliament building) in 1999, another cast was placed as part of the Berlin Wall
memorial.
. She was able to find a small cottage and studio at Peggy Hill, Ambleside
. She continued her creative work well into her 90s, her final piece (Escape to Light) created in 2001 to commemorate the men of the Independent Off-Shore Rescue Service; it appears at Haverigg
on the Cumbrian coast.
.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
much of her working life. Her most famous work includes Reconciliation (Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
, University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
); Holy Family (Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool but it is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
, Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
); Mary and Child (St. Paul's Cathedral); and Nativity (at Christmas) at St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
).
Early life
De Vasconcellos' father was a wealthy BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who helped ensure Josefina was able to develop her artistic talents through a childhood shared between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In 1921 she gained a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Art, studying with William Macmillan
William MacMillan
William MacMillan or McMillan may refer to:*Bill MacMillan , hockey player and coach*William Duncan MacMillan , American mathematician and astronomer*William J. P...
. At the age of 19 she was accepted to the Académie de la Grande Chaumière
Académie de la Grande Chaumière
The Académie de la Grande Chaumière is an art school in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The school was founded in 1902 by the Swiss Martha Stettler , who refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École des Beaux-Arts. It opened the way to the "Art Indépendant"...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where she studied under Antoine Bourdelle
Antoine Bourdelle
Antoine Bourdelle , originally Émile Antoine Bourdelle, was an influential and prolific French sculptor, painter, and teacher.-Career:...
, one of Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
's assistants. Before returning to Britain, she also studied with Libero Andreotti
Libero Andreotti
Libero Andreotti was an Italian sculptor, illustrator and ceramics artist.- External links :***...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
.
Career
Josefina de Vasconcellos attained runner up in the 1930 Prix de RomePrix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
contest. That same year she met the artist Delmar Banner, who was also an Anglican lay priest, and whom she married in 1930. He led her to be baptized into the Anglican church, a faith that has run through much of her artistic work. They adopted two boys, and the family settled in a farmhouse at The Bield in Little Langdale
Little Langdale
Little Langdale is a valley in the Lake District, England containing Little Langdale Tarn and a hamlet also called Little Langdale. A second tarn, Blea Tarn, is in a hanging valley between Little Langdale and the larger Great Langdale to the north...
at the heart of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. She carved in an outhouse at the farm while Banner painted dramatic landscapes from the summits of the Lakeland fells. In 1967, through associations with Pelham House in West Cumbria, the family helped found Outpost Emmaus, an Outward Bound
Outward Bound
Outward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
-type centre for disadvantaged boys at Beckstones in the Duddon Valley
Duddon Valley
The Duddon Valley is a valley in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Duddon flows through the valley, rising in the mountains between Eskdale and Langdale, before flowing into the Irish Sea near Broughton in Furness...
.
In 1975, she initiated the founding of The Harriet Trust, on the shores of the Duddon Estuary
Duddon Estuary
The Duddon Estuary is the sandy, gritty estuary of the River Duddon that lies between Morecambe Bay and the west Cumbrian coast.It opens into the Irish Sea to the north of the Furness peninsula; Walney Island forming part of its southern edge...
at Millom
Millom
Millom is a town and civil parish on the estuary of the River Duddon in the southwest of Cumbria, England. The name is Cumbrian dialect for "At the mills". The town is accessible both by rail and an A class road...
so that disabled children could enjoy nature holidays within a purpose-built dwelling; the modified former fishing trawler The Harriet was used as a recreation space. It was such work that led to de Vasconcellos being honoured in 1985 with the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Throughout her life de Vasconcellos undertook numerous large commissions that were vehicles for her flowing, naturalistic style of carving. At times this contrasted with fashion, for example the period where mainstream sculptured art was toying with the more abstract styles of Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
and Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE was an English sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism, and with such contemporaries as Ivon Hitchens, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo she helped to develop modern art in Britain.-Life and work:Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born on 10 January 1903 in Wakefield,...
. Although raised as an atheist, de Vasconcellos' works were frequently religious. Much of her sculpture can be found in parish churches and cathedrals around Britain, including St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Michael's, Coventry
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
, as well as cathedrals in Blackburn
Blackburn Cathedral
Blackburn Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Blackburn Saint Mary the Virgin, is a cathedral situated in the heart of Blackburn town centre, in Lancashire, England...
, Bristol
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
, Carlisle
Carlisle Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, otherwise called Carlisle Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle. It is located in Carlisle, in Cumbria, North West England...
, Gloucester
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
, Liverpool
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool but it is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
, Norwich
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
and parishes such as St Bees Priory
St Bees Priory
St Bees Priory is the parish church of St Bees, Cumbria. The Benedictine priory was founded by William le Meschin, Lord of Egremont on an earlier religious site, and was dedicated by Archbishop Thurstan of York sometime between 1120 and 1135...
and St Mary's Church, Warrington
St Mary's Church, Warrington
St Mary's Church, Warrington is in the town centre of Warrington, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building, and is an active Roman Catholic church. The parish was established from St Alban's Church, Warrington by Benedictine monks from...
Major works
Varengeville-sur-Mer
Varengeville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A forestry and farming commune situated by the coast of the English Channel and in the Pays de Caux, some west of Dieppe at the junction of the D27, D75 and the D123 roads...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, which included a life-sized reclining figure of Saint Valéry
Walric, abbot of Leuconay
Saint Walric was the founder of the abbey of Leuconay on the Somme River ....
under the stone altar.
After the Second World War, she created several war memorials, including the Prince of Peace (1950) in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
(repaired in 1998); The Last Chimera (1950), for the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
; and The Hand (1955) for the St. Bees' School in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. In 1955, with the help of students from St. Paul's School, she created Mary and Child, a work that appears in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of St. Paul's. Beginning in 1959, she was commissioned by the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to construct an annual Nativity scene
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
made of life-sized figures, which became a regular fixture of the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
display in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
in London.
In 1977, the faculty of peace studies at Bradford University commissioned a sculpture that de Vasconcellos entitled Reunion. After its restoration in 1994 it was renamed Reconciliation
Reconciliation (Josefina de Vasconcellos)
Reconciliation is a sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos.Originally created in 1977 and entitled Reunion, it depicted a man and woman embracing each other across barbed wire. In May 1998 it was presented to University of Bradford as a memorial to the University's first Vice-Chancellor Professor...
. In 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, bronze casts of this sculpture were placed in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
and in the Hiroshima Peace Park in Japan. An additional cast can be found on the grounds of Stormont Castle
Stormont Castle
Stormont Castle is a baronial mansion on the Stormont Estate in east Belfast which is used as the main meeting place of the Northern Ireland Executive....
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. To mark the opening of the rebuilt German Reichstag (parliament building) in 1999, another cast was placed as part of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
memorial.
Last years
In 1988, illness forced de Vasconcellos to leave Little Langdale, and for a time she was accommodated at Isel Hall near CockermouthCockermouth
-History:The Romans created a fort at Derventio, now the adjoining village of Papcastle, to protect the river crossing, which had become located on a major route for troops heading towards Hadrian's Wall....
. She was able to find a small cottage and studio at Peggy Hill, Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
. She continued her creative work well into her 90s, her final piece (Escape to Light) created in 2001 to commemorate the men of the Independent Off-Shore Rescue Service; it appears at Haverigg
Haverigg
Haverigg, a village on the south-west coast of Cumbria, England, historically part of the county of Cumberland. It is a ward within the civil parish of Millom, and is within the local government district of Copeland...
on the Cumbrian coast.
Death
De Vasconcellos died at 6 am on 20 July 2005, a few months after her 100th birthday, at Orchard Lodge, BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.