- Emma Sandors
- BBC
image copyright Getty and National Portrait Gallery
The painting will be on display at the National Portrait Museum in London next June
The British “National Portrait Gallery” museum was able to acquire the May painting (Omai), painted by the artist Joshua Reynolds, after collecting donations in cooperation with the “Getty Museum” in the United States.
The museum succeeded in raising 25 million pounds sterling, the same value collected by the “Getty” museum.
A private collector had bought the painting at auction in 2001, and recently offered it for sale for 50 million pounds.
The painting will now be displayed in galleries in the United Kingdom and the United States under joint ownership.
May (Umay) is widely regarded as one of the finest paintings by Reynolds, who has been described as Britain’s greatest artist.
The British government imposed a ban on the painting leaving the country to prevent its sale abroad.
Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, said: “The unique May painting by Reynolds is the most important acquisition ever made by the National Portrait Gallery, and the largest acquisition ever made by the UK, along with the paintings of the Italian painter Tician acquired by the National Gallery. and National Museums Scotland in 2009 and 2012.
‘uniquely important’
The public can view the unique painting at the National Gallery in London, after it reopened on June 22.
The painting will be shown in other museums across the UK, including The Box Museum in Plymouth.
image copyright Getty Images
Joshua Reynolds has been described as Britain’s greatest artist
The painting will also be shown for the first time in the United States at the J. Paul Getty Museum in 2026, including the period when Los Angeles hosts the Olympic Games in 2028.
Cullinan thanked all those involved in the purchase with Getty for having “the vision to join us in an innovative strategic partnership that has ensured that this uniquely significant painting enters the public domain for the first time, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Reynolds’ birth, for all to see and enjoy.” With her beauty.”
The painting is of a person named Mai, known as “Omai” in England, who is from Raiatea Island, an island currently belonging to French Polynesia, and he had traveled from Tahiti to England accompanied by Captain James Cook.
He spent the years 1774-1776 in London, was entertained by royalty and the educated elite, and became a celebrity.
May returned home in 1777 and died there two years later.
Howard Castle
Timothy Potts, Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum, said: “May, by Joshua Reynolds, is not only one of the great masterpieces of British art, but one of the most tangible and visually compelling manifestations of the first encounters between Europe and the peoples of the Pacific Islands.” .
He added, “The opportunity for partnership between Getty and the museum, in order to acquire this work and display it to the public in Britain, California and around the world, represents an innovative model that we hope will prompt others to think about it innovatively, to highlight the effectiveness of partnerships in major works of art.”
The museum thanked the previous owners of the painting for their cooperation, and Christie’s for their support in the negotiations.
Major artists such as Sir Anthony Gormley, Rebecca Salter and Richard Deacon, and historians Simon Schama, David Olusuga and Simon Sebag-Montefiore have also contributed to the fundraiser.
Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy, many of his works adorn the walls of the National Gallery, and he was knighted by King George III in 1769.
He died in 1792 and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
It was kept in his studio in London until his death in 1792, and was bought shortly after by Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, and displayed at his country house, Castle Howard, in Yorkshire, England.
The painting remained there until 2001, when a private collector bought it at auction and put it up for sale.
