Print designed by James George Obden and engraved by J. Dadley, diploma awarded to William Porden on his election to the Royal Jennerian Society on May 17th 1820, etching and engraving, Great Britain, 1820

An honorary Diploma awarded to William Porden on his election to the Royal Jennerian Society on May 17th 1820. A print in black ink on paper depicting a monumental arch, surmounted with the royal crest and covered in many smaller crests, through which a cityscape of London is visible including a view of St. Paul's and the Monument. To the left is a statue of Edward Jenner holding a snake mounted on a pedestal decorated with a woman milking a cow and passing a bowl of it to children. In the foreground there are large sheets of paper that are inscribed with the names of honorary members of the Jennerian Society.

Edward Jenner M.D. (1749-1823) discovered that cow pox protected the human constitution from small-pox and spent much of his life disseminating his discovery throughout Britain and the rest of the world. The Royal Jennerian Society was founded in 1803, more than 12,000 people being inoculated in the first eighteen months. The date of 1820 appears to be an alteration perhaps indicating that another state of this diploma was in use at an earlier date.

This print was acquired with 7 cartoons for stained glass by Henry Singleton (1766-1839) for windows at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, rebuilt by William Porden c.1803-12. For further details of the full provenance see CATALOGUE OF STAINED GLASS DRAWINGS, SINGLETON, Henry E.1939-1945-1990.

E.1953-1990