British have not managed to buy the first portrait of free black
Funds for the purchase had been collected, but now it looks like they are returned to the donors
AI has repeatedly written about the campaign to raise funds for the redemption of "a nation" of the various works of art. This practice is common in the UK. For example, in 2009 managed to collect 50 million pounds to purchase paintings by Titian, "Diana and Actaeon» , and in early 2011 the country managed to keep the painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger . However, as we shall see below, this system works is not always.
 William Hoare Ayyub Suleiman Diallo. 1733 Source: |
Last summer, London's National Portrait Gallery announced the raising of funds to purchase a portrait of Gambian Prince Ayub Diallo brushes William Hoare of Bath. This is the oldest in history (the portrait painted in 1733), the image of free blacks, and also a Muslim. Before the advent of a Christie's auction in November 2009, this pattern was not present more than one hundred years. The portrait was bought for 530,000 pounds of Museums Qatar, ie, in fact, representatives of the royal family of Qatar Al-Thani.
However, immediately take the purchase outside the UK failed. According to English law works a special "national importance" in the country for over 50 years, can not be exported without special licenses Minister of Culture. A supervisory committee on the export of works of art and cultural property (Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest) recommended that the license has not yet given.
The objects of "national importance" rank as a work of art if it complies with at least one of the three so-called criteria, Waverley (Waverley criteria):
1. A very close relationship with the history of Britain and its people.
2. The outstanding artistic merit.
3. Of particular importance to art history or historical research.
As noted in the annual report of the Oversight Committee for the export of works of art and cultural property in the event with a portrait of Prince Gambian decisive role played by the first and third criteria. Name Ayub Diallo entered the history of the transatlantic slave trade of the XVIII century (more on the history of Ayub Diallo and the creation of his portrait, see « portrait of the freed slave want to leave in the UK »). During his visit to Britain, he changed the attitude of many educated people to African culture, religion and the institution of slavery. In addition, it is the first portrait of free Africans in the British soil, it is important for studying the history of portraiture of non-Europeans in Britain.
launched a campaign to raise funds to purchase the product. More than 400 thousand pounds made Charities National Art Fund and Lottery Fund, Heritage, and missing 100 thousand pounds sacrificed individuals.
And then, when the National Portrait Gallery has already collected the necessary sum for the ransom, he suddenly found that the Office of Museum of Qatar has decided not to sell the portrait. By law, the buyer has the right to do. Portrait remains in the ownership of Qatar, but now it is impossible to take it: if a foreign collector, the purchase was detained in the country, refuses to sell this valuable piece of art for "fair market value" of the British public organization or individual, the Minister of Culture will automatically deny him a license to export . Apply for re-license possible, but only if the circumstances of the case since the last failure has changed. Otherwise, try to remove the product owner can again only after 10 years.
Meanwhile, the National Portrait Gallery and Museum Management Qatar have agreed that the portrait of Ayub Diallo has been in Britain for at least five years. During this time, the gallery staff will be engaged in conservation and research of fabrics, and after the painting will tour the country through Leicester and Liverpool, and in 2013 will participate in a temporary exhibition in Doha, before returning to English soil. With regard to donations made by the British in the failed buyout of a portrait - they promise to return soon.
material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI
Sources: , artinvestment.ru
