Images Dated 2009

An Early Canine Meeting

Signed and dated 1855
Oil on canvas 29 x 37 ins
This is one of the most historic of all dog paintings. It depicts a scene at Jemmy (or Jimmy) Shaw's Queen's Head Tavern in 1855. 'Leads', as they were sometimes called, bridge the gap between the early baiting and fighting sports and dog shows, as we now know them. It shows Shaw and many of his regulars, all men, for the ladies had their own shows held in more genteel surroundings. A number of early breeds are shown - Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Black and Tan Terriers and Toy Spaniels. The walls are covered with prints depicting aspects of sporting life, including boxing, for Shaw was a skillfull lightweight pugilist of his day.
Usage: Q10-27

© The Kennel Club

Ladies of the Chorus

This photogravure has been taken from Maud Earl's portfolio 'British Hounds and Gun-Dogs', which was published in a limited edition of 500 copies in 1902 by the Berlin Photographic Company.
The dogs shown here are Clumber Harriers called Lively, Desperate and Dora and they belonged to Her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle. The Duchess' involvement with dogs knew no bounds, keeping a pack of Harriers at Clumber alongside her show dogs. Of the breed, Lady Gifford MH wrote: 'Indeed the breed of hound that can boast of possibly greater antiquity that any other. For did not the cavalry soldier Xenophon at the age of 24 keep a pack of Harriers, over 2, 000 years ago'

© TThe Kennel Club

Portrait of a Borzoi

Canvas 76 x 63 ins, signed and dated 1890
This painting is a fine example of the breed before it was established as a show dog in this country. It was painted two years before the first Borzoi became a champion. This painting was bequeathed to the Kennel Club by Kathleen, Duchess of Newcastle and may prove to be one of the unsolved mysteries of the collection. A brass plaque that used to be beside the painting stated that the Borzoi is Ch Vetch but in her will the Duchess bequeaths the Borzoi Champion Velsh. In fact there was no champion Borzoi of either name in this country, nether did the Duchess own one so named. She did however own a famous dog named Ch Velsk, the sixth Borzoi to become a champion and the sire of four champions. It would therefore appear that there had been a mix up of names or a mistake of the part of a typist, and Velsk is in fact the dog in the painting. However photographs of Velsk show a dog with entirely different markings to the dog in the painting. F

© The Kennel Club