Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Mai is on display at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, where it opened on September 15, 2026. Visitors can see it through March 2027. The Getty and the National Portrait Gallery jointly bought the painting in 2023 for $61 million. The work stands nearly eight feet tall.
Mai arrived in England in 1774 after joining Captain James Cook’s second expedition, a journey of exploration. He was in his early twenties and became the first Pacific Islander to visit Britain. Reynolds painted his portrait in 1776, giving him the impressive appearance usually reserved for wealthy or powerful people. His pose and clothing drew on images of ancient Roman leaders.
Although Mai was not a nobleman in the Society Islands, Joseph Banks presented him as one in England. Banks introduced him to important people at dinners, parties, and theater performances. Mai also met King George III and Queen Charlotte. His public image reflected British ideas about distant societies, while Reynolds’ painting expressed the belief that human dignity belonged to everyone.
