Moroccan Ambassador ‘meets’ historic predecessor on campus
The Moroccan Ambassador to the UK visited the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and viewed the renowned Portrait of Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun.
Professor Jennifer Powell, Director of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, shows the ‘Moroccan Ambassador’ portrait to current Moroccan Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Hakim Hajoui. (Photo by Simon Hadley)
The current Moroccan Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Hakim Hajoui, had the unique opportunity to reflect on the legacy of an illustrious diplomatic predecessor from over 400 years ago during a visit to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham.
The Ambassador viewed, in the world-class campus gallery, the renowned Portrait of the Moroccan Ambassador Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun – the earliest known British painting of a Muslim figure.
His Excellency Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun led an embassy to London in 1600 to deepen trade and diplomatic links between Britain and Morocco and historically has been suggested as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Othello.
"This portrait is a powerful symbol of the deep historical ties between Morocco and the United Kingdom, dating back over eight centuries. Seeing it here at the Barber Institute at the University of Birmingham underscores the vital role academic and cultural institutions play in preserving and celebrating our shared history.
His Excellency Mr. Hakim Hajoui commented: "This portrait is a powerful symbol of the deep historical ties between Morocco and the United Kingdom, dating back over eight centuries. Seeing it here at the Barber Institute at the University of Birmingham underscores the vital role academic and cultural institutions play in preserving and celebrating our shared history."
The current Ambassador was visiting the University of Birmingham to learn more about the University’s connections to Morocco and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.
University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell commented: “We are honoured to welcome His Excellency to our beautiful Birmingham campus as we mark our 125th anniversary this year. We are a global civic university committed to improving people’s lives and we are proud to provide world-class education, research and civic leadership to the MENA region though the University of Birmingham Dubai.”
Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun led an embassy to the court of Elizabeth I in 1600 in order to deepen trade and diplomatic links between Britain and Morocco – and to try and forge an alliance against Spain.
The University of Birmingham lent the portrait to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2022, as a key part of the touring exhibition The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England. The painting was also shown at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio and the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco in 2023.
Belonging to the University’s Research and Cultural Collections, the masterpiece has been on loan to the Barber – the art museum and collection for the University – since June, and will remain on display until the galleries close to prepare for the second phase of essential building improvements from 27 January.
Clare Mullett, Head of Research and Cultural Collections at the University of Birmingham commented that the painting was one of the most vivid souvenirs of British history at the turn of the 17th century.
"We are delighted to display this landmark Tudor portrait at the Barber, where it very much at home among this globally important art collection,” said Ms Mullett. “Abd el-Ouahed’s visit to the court of Queen Elizabeth I represented a major event in the history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges between Europe and the Islamic world. His arrival highlighted a shift in foreign policy and demonstrated England’s willingness to engage with nations outside Europe.”
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The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is the art gallery, principal art collection and original concert hall for the University of Birmingham. It was founded in 1932 ‘for the study and encouragement of art and music’ by Lady Barber, who stipulated the acquisition of works ‘of that standard of quality required by the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection’. Housed in Birmingham’s most significant Art Deco building, designed by Robert Atkinson, the Barber Institute is home to a National Designated Collection, acquired and owned by the Henry Barber Trust and with holdings that now include some 160 paintings, dating from the early Renaissance through to the late 20th century, more than 800 works on paper, as well as sculpture, decorative arts and one of the most important caches of Roman, Byzantine and Medieval coins in the world. The collection features key works by (among others) Giovanni Bellini, Sandro Botticelli, Rosalba Carriera, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, Gwen John, Käthe Kollwitz, René Magritte, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin, Peter Paul Rubens, JMW Turner, Vincent van Gogh, Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun and James McNeill Whistler. For more information, visit barber.org.uk and follow @barberinstitute on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook for regular updates, news and opportunities to engage with the Barber.