The National Portrait Gallery in London is trying to raise £25m (~$30.5m) by June 10 to preserve Sir Joshua Reynold’s life-size ‘Portrait of Omai’ (c.1776) at the United Kingdom. The painting depicts the first Polynesian visitor to England and explores British concepts of 18th century colonialism. Last March, the UK issued a temporary ban on the export of the work, a common UK practice in which the government asks its citizens to buy “national treasuresat the risk of being bought by foreigners outside the country. The ban has now been extended until June.
The UK first banned the painting’s export in March 2022. Under regulations, UK buyers must buy ‘Portrait of Omai’ at its £50 million ($61 million) value . Almost half of that money has been raised so far, with substantial contributions of £10m ($12.2m) and £2.5m ($3m) from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund, respectively. Some contemporary artists, including Anthony Gormley, Richard Deacon RAAnd Elizabeth Peyton — have also publicly expressed their support for the cause.
The painting of Mr Joshua Reynoldsprominent 18th-century portrait painter and first president of the British Royal Academy, portrayed May, the first Polynesian to visit the UK. (The titular “Omai” represents a British mispronunciation.) Mai arrived in the country in 1774 on Captain Cook’s ship, whose early voyages to the Pacific laid the foundation for centuries of British colonialism. May helped Cook in his negotiations with the native peoples and became a Briton celebrity upon arrival in the country. He stayed for two years, travelling, engaging with aristocrats and the British court, and becoming the subject of English writers and painters. Cook had promised to help Mai take over the island of Ra’iatea, but ultimately Cook broke his promise to Mai when the men returned to the Pacific.
“It exemplifies the connectivity of the world in the late 18th century through the exploration and spread of colonial ambitions, as well as the fascination that high-level cultural encounters inspired,” said Christopher Baker, a member of the committee that decides export bans. in a statement. Baker added that Reynolds’ “highly romantic image” exemplifies European perceptions and occupies a special place in the evolution of portraiture in the 18th century.
“Portrait of Omai” has always been in private hands and was only publicly exhibited once, almost 20 years ago. Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery declared that the museum will exhibit the work in June if it is successfully purchased.
Past works subject to UK export bans vary widely. For a work to be eligible for an export ban, the review panel must decide that the object has aesthetic or scientific value, or historical significance to the UK. Works do not have to have been created by British artists. For example, in 2021 the UK banned an 18th century gold tiger head looted from India. Anindya Sen supported in a Hyperallergic opinion piece that the government should have repatriated the object rather than attempting to keep it in the colonizing nation.
Other works of art currently protected by export bans include artifacts from ancient Egypt and medieval France, as well as pieces of British history including military medals, a painting by Benjamin West and a 1792 anti-slavery poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
