London: The historic portraits of Moroccan ambassadors Abdelkader Perez and Mohammed Ben Ali Abgali recall the golden age of 18th-century Moroccan diplomacy
Two portraits of exceptional historical value, depicting two distinguished Moroccan ambassadors sent by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl to the Court of England in the 18th century, are currently being offered for sale by the prestigious Galerie Kugel in Paris for 450,000 euros.
The first painting portrays Abdelkader Perez, the illustrious Grand Admiral of the corsair cities of Rabat and Salé, a prominent figure in Moroccan diplomacy of Morisco origin. Sent to London between 1723 and September 5, 1724, he was received with the highest honors and played a key role in strengthening the prestige of the Cherifian Kingdom among Europe’s great maritime powers. His portrait, painted around 1724 by the renowned Swedish artist Michael Dahl, reflects the nobility, authority, and influence of Morocco’s representative at the heart of international relations of the era.
The second masterpiece honors Mohammed Ben Ali Abgali, who succeeded Abdelkader Perez and brilliantly carried on Moulay Ismaïl’s diplomatic mission in London between 1725 and 1727. His likeness, painted around 1725 by Enoch Seeman the Younger, depicts a man of culture, refinement, and ambition—an enlightened diplomat devoted to asserting Morocco’s presence and prestige on the European stage.
These two portraits are far more than simple paintings. They embody the golden age of Moroccan diplomacy, the political genius of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, and the proud image of a sovereign, respected, and influential Kingdom at the heart of the global exchanges of the 18th century.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
