This is the intriguing story of a former West African slave whose life is now partially caught up in art diplomacy between Britain and Qatar. Ayub Suleiman Diallo a.k.a Job Ben Solomon was apparently the first African to be cast in an oil portrait in Britain "as an individual and equal." The painting appears to be very important to British history as this news story purports but it also appears that the British government was not even aware that the painting was with an auction company, Christie's, until the painting was sold to the Qatar Museums Authority. It was apparently after the sale that its importance was noticed and a ban placed on its being removed from the country. The story begs several questions? How did the painting reach Christie's. Why did British authorities wait until after it was sold before placing a ban on its export? Is such a ban legal? Why does the painting have to stay in Britain after it has been purchased by the Qatar Museums Authority? There is much to this story than meets the eye and more explanation is needed.
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