The bronze sculpture represents Edward Jenner who is about to inoculate the vaccine into his own son. The statue is currently located in the warehouse of Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome (Viale delle Belle Arti 131). This dramatic decision had a strong impact on the public: the image of a father who, though conscious of the possible tragic consequences of his act, struggles against his fears.
The sculpture, by the artist Giulio Monteverde, was presented to the public at the Universal Exposition of Vienna (1873). In order to be sent to the exposition the sculptures had to be selected by a jury. When Monteverde presented his statue it received different critics and it was discarded by the "Accademia di San Luca" jury. Apparently this happened because Monteverde had had some contrasts with artist Pietro Tenerani. It was thanks to Stefano Castagnola, friend of Monteverde, that the statue was sent to the International Exposition in Austria.
In 1878 Giulio Monteverde realized the monument in a marble version which can be found at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Genoa.
- Photo courtesy of the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome. Under the permission of the Ministero dei Beni e Attività Culturali.
- Locate the item on this Google Map
Bibliography
- E. Di Majo e M. Lafranconi (ed.), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna di Roma, le collezioni il XIX secolo, Milano 2006, p. 149.