Details
Creator Bartolozzi, Francesco, 1727-1815, engraver.
Contributor Dance, Nathaniel, Sir, 1735-1811, artist.
Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th Earl of, 1718-1792, dedicatee.
Title Omai a native of Ulaietea, brought into England in the year 1774 by Tobias Furneaux esqr. commander of his majesty's sloop Adventure; [graphic] : Humbly inscribed to the Right Honble John Earl of Sandwich, first commissioner for executing the office of the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland; &c. &c. &c. By his lordship's most devoted humble servant, Fras. Bartolozzi. / N. Dance del. ; F. Bartolozzi sculp.
Publisher London : Publish'd according to Act of Parlt
Publisher ENG. London. 1774
Date October 25, 1774
Physical Description 1 print : etching and engraving ; sheet 66 x 49 cm (25.75 x 19 in.)
Description Full-length portrait of Mai (known as Omai in Britain,) a young indigenous man from Raiatea, who became the second Pacific Islander to visit Europe. Mai is depicted with long, black hair, barefooted, attired in a white robe, and has tattoos on his hands. He holds a feather taumi (gorget) in his right hand and a carved wooden headrest, which may have doubled as a stool, under his left arm. Mai acted as an interpreter to James Cook and joined the crew of the H.M.S. Adventure, traveling to London in 1774. During his two-year stay in England, he became admired by London high society and painted and sketched by a number of artists including Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Hodges, William Parry, and Nathaniel Dance. Mai returned to Tahiti in 1776.
Notes Title and date from item.
Subject Omai -- Portraits.
Indigenous peoples -- Tahiti.
Polynesians.
Polynesians in art.
Tahitians -- England -- London.
Tattoos.
Visitors, Foreign -- England -- London.
AAPI.
Genre Intaglio prints -- 1770-1780.
Portrait prints -- 1770-1780.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| **portrait prints - O [(3)5750.F.180a]
Accession number (3)5750.f.180a