The Huguenot Museum in Rochester has successfully acquired the iconic painting "His Master's Voice" featuring the famous HMV dog Nipper, following a triumphant crowdfunding campaign. Museum staff expressed they are "absolutely delighted" to have secured this culturally significant artwork for their permanent collection.
The historic painting was created by Francis Barraud in 1898 and depicts Nipper, the beloved "HMV dog" who became one of the world's most recognizable cultural icons. Lara Dix, director of the Huguenot Museum in Rochester, emphasized that having the painting in their permanent collection represents "a real point of pride for Rochester and for Kent." She noted that "displaying Nipper here connects that Kentish heritage to one of the world's best-loved cultural icons."
The acquisition holds special significance due to Barraud's heritage as a descendant of the Huguenots, the French Protestants who fled religious persecution and settled in England beginning in the 16th century. The Barraud family eventually settled in London, where they established themselves as accomplished artists and craftsmen. According to Dix, the Huguenots were among the earliest refugee communities to make their home in Kent.
"The painting is a wonderful example of how Huguenot talent and heritage continued to shape British art and culture for centuries," Dix explained. The museum launched their crowdfunding campaign earlier this year to purchase the painting from its previous owners, Antony and Jules Michael.
The dog's name "Nipper" originated from his behavioral tendency to nip at people's legs. In an interesting artistic evolution, Barraud originally painted Nipper listening to a phonograph, but a friend suggested he use a gramophone instead. This change proved pivotal when Barraud pitched his concept to the Gramophone Company in Maiden Lane, London.
The Gramophone Company recognized the painting's commercial potential and commissioned Barraud's work, paying him £100 for both the artwork and its copyright. This business decision would prove extraordinarily prescient, as the image became the company's official trademark in 1909. The Gramophone Company began using Nipper's image on their gramophones and record labels, and the company eventually became known colloquially as "HMV."
Nipper's transformation into a global icon happened remarkably quickly. By 1921, the Gramophone Company had opened its first HMV shop at 363 Oxford Street, capitalizing on the dog's widespread recognition and appeal.
The company underwent significant changes in 1931 when the Gramophone Company merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company to form EMI Records. However, Nipper's legacy endured through decades of corporate transitions. EMI eventually discontinued the Nipper trademark at the end of the 20th century, then sold the rights to the newly-independent HMV shops in 2003. Despite these business changes, Nipper's fame and cultural impact continue to resonate today, making the museum's acquisition of the original painting particularly meaningful for preserving this piece of art and cultural history.
