Photograph of a portrait of Eleanor Anne Porden by Maria Flaxman

Eleanor Anne Porden (1795-1825) was the daughter of architect William Porden (1754-1822). Interested in the arts and sciences, Eleanor published two volumes of poetry: "The Veils" and "Coeur de Lion". In 1823 she married Captain John Franklin, the polar explorer. After giving birth to the couple's only daughter in 1824, she died from tuberculosis soon after Franklin departed on another polar expedition.

This portrait of Eleanor was painted by Maria Flaxman (1768-1833), also known as Mary Ann Flaxman, the sister of the sculptor John Flaxman. The Flaxmans were family friends of the Pordens. Eleanor's daughter, Eleanor Isabella Franklin, married the Reverend John Philip Gell of the Gell family of Hopton Hall in Derbyshire. The painting was sold at the auction of the contents of Hopton Hall in the 1980s and its current location is unknown.