The Kennel Club Art Gallery, recently hailed by the Times newspaper as the ‘most exclusive public gallery in Britain’, has launched a new exhibition examining two of the more overlooked Utility dog breeds.

The Exhibition, entitled ‘Two Dissimilar Breeds: The French Bulldog & Schipperke in Art’, opened on 22nd February and runs until 11th June 2010. On show is a wide range of art and ephemera including, paintings, bronze sculptures and porcelain models that shed light on two lesser known dog breeds, dissimilar but both fit for a specific function.

Highlights of some of the Schipperke items on display include a Lilian Cheviot portrait of celebrated champion dog Queen of Clubs, a portrait of Champion Yaap by Frances Fairman and a portrait of Champion Pudi of Moorehaven by Julie Brenan, who was the only Schipperke to win a Best in Show award at a major Championship dog show. Also on exhibit is a huge selection of medals, commemorative spoons and bronze sculptures, as well as a pair of painted wooden clogs depicting the breed.

Many French Bulldog items are on display, such as an extensive collection of paintings and prints by artists including Arthur Heyer, Maud Earl, Marguerite Kirmse and Vernon Stokes. Porcelain models made by Copenhagen, Nymphenberg, Meissen and Rosenthal are also on show, and a soft toy collection, including an example by Steiff can be found, as well as an array of ephemera including clocks, jewellery, a set of working nightlights, toys, bell pushes, cigarette lighters and even crumb brushes.

Also still on exhibit at the Kennel Club Art Gallery is one of Sir Edwin Landseer’s most famous and best loved dog paintings ‘A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society’, on loan from the Tate collection and on display in the UK for the first time in 50 years. The Kennel Club Art Gallery recently secured exclusive rights to display the painting until 2012.

Caroline Kisko, Communication Director at the Kennel Club, commented: “The attention to detail of this exhibition is quite amazing, and divulges much of the rich history of these two wonderful breeds. We hope many dog lovers, as well as art enthusiasts, will be able to visit the Art Gallery as we are sure they will not be disappointed by this fascinating exhibition, which is shedding light on the French Bulldog and Schipperke.”

The Kennel Club Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am - 4.30pm by appointment and is free of charge. To arrange a visit, please telephone 020 7518 1064 or email artgallery@thekennelclub.org.uk.

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