Simon Schama goes behind the scenes to see The Portrait of Mai (Omai)

Historian Simon Schama goes behind the scenes to see The Portrait of Mai (Omai), c1776, by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Art Fund and National Portrait Gallery members feel passionately about supporting the UK’s public collections, and it is the collective power of our supporters that has enabled us to act to bring extraordinary works of art into public view throughout our history.
We’ve been working closely with the National Portrait Gallery to raise the funds needed to secure the portrait, as they explore every possible option to share the painting with people across the UK. Art Fund has awarded an exceptional grant of £2.5 million, the largest in our history. This is alongside a major pledge of £10 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and generous donations from trusts, foundations, and individuals to support this acquisition. There remains a very ambitious challenge, but this is a unique chance to bring a painting of outstanding international significance into public ownership for the first time.
If you would like to help save the painting so that it can be shared with everyone forever, please consider donating. Any donation, of any size, will make a difference and help to galvanise further support.

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Please donate what you can to save this beautiful painting

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He wasn't a prince. The fascinating book The Wide Wide Sea detailing Cook's third voyage has lots of information on Mai's life.