Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Saar Shahar, PhD Candidate in English, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Americans can now see a famous portrait of the Pacific Islander who captivated 18th-century England for the first time

Mai James Cook Banks England Joshua Reynolds John Elliot Tahiti
A detail from Joshua Reynolds’ 'Portrait of Omai,' which was painted in 1776. Wikimedia Commons

In 1774, a young man in his early 20s named Mai arrived in England.

The first Pacific Islander to visit Britain, Mai had joined Captain James Cook’s second expedition during its stop in the Society Islands, which include the islands of Tahiti and Raiatea and today are a part of French Polynesia.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Khloé Kardashian's 'Watch Until the End' Message Targets Criticism of the Family's AI Season Opener
Khloé Kardashian has defended The Kardashians' unusual season-eight opening, urging critics to watch the full AI-themed sequence before judging its satire about technology and authenticity.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Kelly Clarkson Slams Brooklyn Store Clerk Who Allegedly Used a 'Condescending Tone' Over $15,000 Item
Kelly Clarkson and Brooklyn boutique Art of Play have offered conflicting accounts of a disputed encounter involving a $15,000 mechanical singing bird and claims of rude treatment.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Dan Levy hits out at Shane Gillis over ‘misogynist’ comments in SNL monologue
Stand-up Gillis, who was fired from the comedy show in 2019, branded women at the gym ‘wh***s’
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
TV Star Breaks Silence On Social Media Frenzy After He Accidentally Exposed Himself To Fans
‘Smallville’ star Tom Welling meant to share a view of the New York City skyline, but accidentally exposed much more than he intended.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
‘We’re in a brotherhood now’: the Bill Pickett rodeo – photo essay
For several years, Chloe Kerleroux has been photographing African American cowboy communities in the southern US. Her work has mainly focused on trail rides: large gatherings where horses, music, dancing, family and community life come together. This year, she explored rodeo culture including at the Bill Pickett invitational in Atlanta
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Is your name still common? What Canadian baby names reveal about how we’ve changed
A given name holds the spark of identity. It is ours — we wear it — yet it is also the primary label by which others know us. Names are inherently both personal and public.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play