A nearly eight-foot canvas by 18th-century English portrait painter Joshua Reynolds, titled “The Portrait of Mai,” is preparing for its West Coast debut next month at the Getty Museum in Brentwood. The painting, which depicts a regal young Tahitian man who traveled to London with Capt. James Cook in 1774, was purchased by the Getty two years ago in a joint acquisition with London’s National Portrait Gallery for more than $61 million.
Since its arrival last month, the painting has been undergoing an intensive technical study by the Getty’s conservation team, joined by NPG’s visiting conservator Sally Higgs. The team is capturing new imaging to uncover Reynolds' pigments and materials, and to confirm any alterations made over the past 250 years. Kari Rayner, the Getty’s associate conservator of paintings, noted that such condensed studies often lead to new questions, a challenge in itself.
Using tools like X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and reflectance imaging spectroscopy, conservators have identified chemical elements such as lead, vermilion, carbon black, and iron-earth pigments in Reynolds’ work. These scans revealed multiple paint layers and reworked areas, including changes to Mai’s hand placement and head, reinforcing Reynolds’ reputation as an artist who was “notoriously someone that never is satisfied with what he’s done,” according to Higgs.
Remarkably, the painting is in very good condition, especially considering its age and artist, meaning no immediate treatment is required. The ongoing study, which will next analyze binding media and paint layer structure, is intended to inform any future conservation efforts. As Catherine Patterson, a scientist for the Getty Conservation Institute, put it, much of the work during this intense period involves gathering data that will take months to fully interpret.
Davide Gasparotto, senior curator of paintings at the Getty, highlighted the artwork's dual significance as both a painting and an anthropological artifact, representing a pivotal moment of cultural encounter. “The Portrait of Mai” introduced tension between Indigenous traditions and Western conventions, showcasing Mai’s robe, turban, and hand tattoos, a rare example of a Grand Manner painting featuring a person of color.
Its L.A. debut on September 14 will begin with a private Polynesian blessing ceremony featuring Tahitian music, dance, and food. After its welcoming, “Portrait of Mai” will be displayed prominently among other notable portraits at the Getty until March 14, 2027. Following renovations at the Getty, it will temporarily move to the Getty Villa before returning to the main museum in time for the 2028 L.A. Olympics.