£50m Joshua Reynolds portrait goes on show

An 18th Century painting described as "the finest portrait by one of Britain's greatest artists" has gone on display in Bradford.

Valued at £50m, Portrait of Mai by Sir Joshua Reynolds is on show at the city's Cartwright Hall, in Manningham.

The painting, which depicts the first Polynesian to visit Britain, is touring the country for the first time since it was saved for the nation in 2023.

The National Portrait Gallery said the artwork was the "most significant acquisition ever made" and would be shared between galleries in the UK and the US.

Mai was a native of Raiatea, an island now part of French Polynesia.

He travelled to England as part of Captain James Cook's second voyage and was received by royalty and the intellectual elite between 1774 and 1776.

After embarking on a grand tour of Britain, Mai became something of a celebrity and had his portrait painted in London.

Mai returned to his homeland in 1777, where he died two years later.

During its time in Bradford, Portrait of Mai will be accompanied by a new engagement programme, created with youth panel members from Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and young people from Common/Wealth theatre company.

A summit, led and arranged by young people, will take place on 9 August and a late museum event is being organised for 14 August, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Miranda Stacey, Head of National Partnerships at the National Portrait Gallery, said: "We are delighted to be launching Journeys with Mai in Bradford during its important UK City of Culture year."

She thanked supporters for making their portraits accessible to people across the UK.

It will be on show at Cartwright Hall until 17 August before going on display in Cambridge and Plymouth before it travels to the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles in 2026.

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