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Full length portrait of a Polynesian man, possibly Omai?

This engraving after a drawing by artist William Hodges, comes from the official account of Cook's second voyage, 'A Voyage towards the South Pole', published by Strahan and Cadell in 1777. Hodges was the official voyage artist.

This portrait is of Mai (incorrectly known as Omai in Britain), a young Raiatean from Huahine who joined Captain James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific, on board the ‘Adventure’ and was the first Polynesian to visit England. The portrait was engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi after a drawing by Nathaniel Dance. This state is without letter. The published impression, with a dedication to the Earl of Sandwich, was issued by Bartolozzi on 25 October 1774.

Mai caused a sensation on arriving in London, and met all the great men of the day, including George III. He had befriended James Burney, Lieutenant on the ‘Adventure’ and brother of the writer Fanny Burney. She discussed meeting with him in her journal, and her impression of his fine bows, cultivated and rational manners, and his striking tattoos.

Mounted in album with PAI2055-PAI2070, PAI2072-PAI2127.

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Object Details

ID:	PAI2071
Type:	Print
Display location:	Not on display
Creator:	Bartolozzi, Francesco; Cook, Henry R. Dance, Nathaniel
Date made:	25 Oct 1774
Credit:	National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements:	Sheet: 540 x 330 mm; page: 590 mm x 460 mm
Parts:	Volume of Plates to Cook's Voyages. Voyage II (Album) Captain James Cook, FRS (Print) (PAI2055) A Chart of the Southern Hemisphere; shewing the Tracks of some of the most distinguished Navigators: By Captain James Cook, of his Majesty's Navy (Print) (PAI2056) Port Praya in the Island of St Jago, one of the Cape de Verds (Print) (PAI2057) The Ice Islands, seen...(unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2058) The Ice Islands, seen... (titled unfinished) (Print) (PAI2059) New Zealand Spruce Fir (Print) (PAI2060) Family in Dusky Bay, New Zealand (Print) (PAI2061) Sketch of Dusky Bay in New Zealand, 1773 (Print) (PAI2062) Botanical drawing of plants (Print) (PAI2063) Poe Bird, New Zealand (Print) (PAI2064) Botanical drawing of plant (Print) (PAI2065) Sketch of Van Dieman Land, Explored by Captn Furneaux in March 1773 (Print) (PAI2066) Otoo, King of O-Taheite (Print) (PAI2067) Botanical drawing of a plant (Print) (PAI2068) Potatow (native with beard, wearing turban scarf on his head) (Print) (PAI2069) Omai (Print) (PAI2070) Full length portrait of a Polynesian man, possibly Omai? (Print) (PAI2071) The Island of Otaheite (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2072) A Toupapow with a Corpse on it, Attended by the Chief Mourner in his Habit of Ceremony (Print) (PAI2073) Chart of the Friendly Islands (Print) (PAI2074) The Landing at Middleburgh one of the Friendly Isles (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2075) Otago (native from the Pacific) (Print) (PAI2076) Afia-too-ca, a Burying Place in the Isle of Amsterdam (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2077) Afia-too-ca, a Burying Place in the Isle of Amsterdam (before title) (Print) (PAI2078) A Draught Plan & Section of an Amsterdam Canoe, seen in the South Seas (Print) (PAI2079) Various articles belonging to South Pacific natives, including spears and bow and arrow (Print) (PAI2080) Various articles belonging to South Pacific natives, including weapons with fancy carving (Print) (PAI2081) Easter Island (Print) (PAI2082) Man of Easter Island (before title) (Print) (PAI2083) Woman of Easter Island (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2084) Woman of Easter Island (Print) (PAI2085) Monuments in Easter Island (before title) (Print) (PAI2086) Sketch of the Marquesas de Mendoca (Print) (PAI2087) Resolution Bay in the Marquesas (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2088) Resolution Bay in the Marquesas (before title) (Print) (PAI2089) Woman of Sta Christina (before title) (Print) (PAI2090) The Chief of Sta Christina (before title) (Print) (PAI2091) Native head-dress, necklace and other items (Print) (PAI2092) Specimen of Otaheitian Cloth with an Impression from a Copper plate (Print) (PAI2093) The Fleet of Otaheite assembled at Oparee (before title) (Print) (PAI2094) A Draught, Plan and Section of the Britannia Otahite War Canoe... (Print) (PAI2095) Tynai-Mai (female native from the Pacific) (Print) (PAI2096) Tynai-Mai (female native from the Pacific) (Print) (PAI2097) O-Hedidee (female native from the Pacific) (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2098) O-Hedidee (female native from the Pacific) (Print) (PAI2099) Four images of Islands in Polynesia, 1. Harvey's Isle 2. Palmerston Isle 3. Turtle Isle 4. Savage Isle (Print) (PAI2100) A View of the Islands of Rotterdam (before title) (Print) (PAI2101) Boats of the Friendly Isles (before title) (Print) (PAI2102) Chart of Discoveries made in the South Pacific Ocean in His Majesty's Ship Resolution Under the Command of Captain Cook, 1774 (Print) (PAI2103) The Landing at Mallicolo, one of the New Hebrides (before title) (Print) (PAI2104) Man of the Island of Mallicolo (Print) (PAI2105) Three sketches of the Island of Mallicolo, Harbour of Balade in New Caledonia, Isle of Tanna (Print) (PAI2106) The Landing at Erramanga one of the New Hebrides (before title) (Print) (PAI2107) The Landing at Tanna one of the New Hebrides (before title) (Print) (PAI2108) View in the Island of Tanna (before title) (Print) (PAI2109) Man of the Island of Tanna (before title) (Print) (PAI2110) Woman of the Island of Tanna (with a child) (Print) (PAI2111) Various articles belonging to natives, including a bow and spears (Print) (PAI2112) View in the Island of New Caledonia (before title) (Print) (PAI2113) Man of New Caledonia (Print) (PAI2114) Woman of New Caledonia (before title) (Print) (PAI2115) Various articles belonging to natives of the Pacific, including a hat and variety of tools or weapons (Print) (PAI2116) View in the Island of Pines (unfinished state) (Print) (PAI2117) View in the Island of Pines (before title) (Print) (PAI2118) Sketch of Norfolk Isle (Pacific Ocean) (Print) (PAI2119) Man of New Zealand (Drawing) (PAI2120) Woman of New Zealand (Print) (PAI2121) Christmas Sound on the S.W. Coast of Terra del Fuego (Print) (PAI2122) Man in Christmas Sound, Tierra del Fuego (Print) (PAI2123) Christmas Sound, Tierra del Fuego (Print) (PAI2124) A Chart of the Southern Extremity of America, 1775 (Print) (PAI2125) Chart of the Discoveries made in the South Atlantic Ocean in His Majesty's Ship Resolution under the Command of Captain Cook, in Jany 1775 (Print) (PAI2126) Possession Bay in the Island of South Georgia (Print) (PAI2127)