‘His Master Voice’ comparing the Barraud and Thompson copies

[Mlund]

After Frances Barraud painted the famous ‘His Masters Voice’ oil on canvas painting in 1899. He was later commissioned by The Gramophone Company of Europe and the Victor Company of America to produce 24 exact copies of his iconic painting for display in various headquarters and for various VIP’s in America and Europe. These copies were unsigned with the exception of his first prototype for this project which was signed.

After Barraud’s death in 1924, the Gramophone Company commissioned famed English artist Charles Thompson to produce a small handful of copies of Barraud’s ‘His Master’s Voice’ painting.

When examining the Barraud copy side by side with the Thompson copy one can see the subtle differences in brush stroke between these two gifted artists.

 

 

‘His Master’s Voice’ by Frances Barraud

 

‘His Master’s Voice’ by Charles Thompson

 

Nipper’s Face - Barraud

 

Nipper’s Face - Thompson

 

Horn - Barraud

Horn - Thompson

Gramophone - Barraud

 

Gramophone - Thompson

 

Body - Barraud

 

Body - Thompson

 

Nipper’s Feet - Barraud

 

Nipper’s Feet - Thompson

 

 

Nipper - Barraud

 

Nipper - Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2023 by Mlund

[phonogfp]

I've never seen such a comparison before - and certainly not to this depth.  Thanks for posting it, Mike!

 

George P.

[CurtA]

It's nice to see both of them in person at the "Lund Museum"...  Apparently the roosters approve...

[CurtA]

https://cornwallartists.org/cornwall-artists/charles-h-thompson

[Guest]

I found the distortion of the case and reproducer interesting in the Thompson copy. It looks like wide angle lens distortion in a camera. Curious...

[CurtA]

13 hours ago, Mainspring said:

I found the distortion of the case and reproducer interesting in the Thompson copy. It looks like wide angle lens distortion in a camera. Curious...

 

The distortion is not in the original painting, it's a result of camera lens distortion when photographed, as you observed.