Portrait of Mai (“Omai”)

about 1776

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

236 × 140 cm

Status

In Museum Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-130419

In July 1774, a young Pacific Islander called Mai set foot in Spithead, England, becoming the first Polynesian visitor to Great Britain. Upon his arrival, Mai (or “Omai,” as he was known there) aroused widespread interest and admiration across the ranks of British society. Sir Joshua Reynolds, one of the most sought-after painters of the day, captured Mai’s likeness in this imposing full-length portrait. Reynolds depicted Mai—who in England adopted British dress—standing barefoot yet elegant before an idealized tropical landscape. The dynamic pose recalls one of the most celebrated sculptures from classical antiquity, the Apollo Belvedere, while Mai’s turban and tattooed hands remind us of his non-European origin. The cream-colored fabric of his sash, turban, and robe is likely intended to represent tapa, or bark cloth, which in Mai’s Polynesian culture was traditionally worn by those of high social standing. In April 1776, Reynolds submitted the Portrait of Mai to the Royal Academy’s annual exhibition, where it was met with widespread acclaim. The reason for Mai’s travel to England was diplomatic. When he was a child, his home island of Raiatea had been attacked by neighboring …