Portrait of Mai (“Omai”), Joshua Reynolds (1776)
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.
