The Huguenot Museum in Rochester has successfully acquired the legendary painting "His Master's Voice" featuring Nipper, the famous HMV dog, following a triumphant crowdfunding campaign. Museum staff have expressed their absolute delight at bringing this iconic artwork into their permanent collection, calling it a significant cultural achievement for both Rochester and the county of Kent.
The historic painting was created by Francis Barraud in 1898 and has become one of the world's most recognizable commercial artworks. Lara Nix, director of the Huguenot Museum in Rochester, emphasized the cultural significance of the acquisition, stating that having the painting in their permanent collection represents "a real point of pride for Rochester and for Kent." She added that "displaying Nipper here connects that Kentish heritage to one of the world's best-loved cultural icons."
The connection between the artwork and the Huguenot Museum runs deeper than mere cultural appreciation. Francis Barraud was of Huguenot descent, tracing his lineage to the French Protestants who fled religious persecution and established new lives in England beginning in the 16th century. The Barraud family eventually settled in London, where they built a reputation as skilled artists and craftsmen. According to Ms. Nix, the Huguenots represented one of the earliest refugee communities to make Kent their home.
"The painting is a wonderful example of how Huguenot talent and heritage continued to shape British art and culture for centuries," Ms. Nix explained, highlighting the lasting impact of this immigrant community on British society. The museum's acquisition of the painting serves as a testament to the enduring contributions of refugee communities to their adopted homelands.
The painting was previously owned by Antony and Jules Michael before the museum's successful crowdfunding effort earlier this year. The artwork's subject, a fox terrier named Nipper, earned his distinctive name because he "tended to nip people's legs," according to museum records. The original composition underwent a significant change during its creation when Barraud initially depicted Nipper listening to a phonograph, but a friend suggested replacing it with a gramophone instead.
Barraud's entrepreneurial spirit led him to pitch his revised concept to the Gramophone Company located on Maiden Lane in London. The company recognized the commercial potential of the image and commissioned the painting, paying Barraud £100 for both the artwork and its copyright. This transaction would prove to be one of the most profitable investments in advertising history.
The Gramophone Company officially adopted Nipper as their trademark in 1909, incorporating his image onto their gramophones and record labels. The company became colloquially known as "HMV" (His Master's Voice), and Nipper rapidly evolved into a worldwide icon. In 1921, the company capitalized on this recognition by opening their first HMV retail store at 363 Oxford Street in London.
The corporate history of Nipper's trademark reflects the changing landscape of the music industry throughout the 20th century. In 1931, the Gramophone Company merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company to form EMI Records, one of the music industry's most influential labels. However, by the end of the 20th century, EMI discontinued the Nipper trademark, later selling it to the newly-independent HMV retail stores in 2003. Despite these corporate changes, Nipper's cultural impact and recognition continue to resonate with audiences today, making the Huguenot Museum's acquisition all the more significant for preserving this piece of art and advertising history.
