The two institutions announced Wednesday, April 26, 2023, they had each pitched in 25 million pounds to acquire Joshua Reynolds' depiction of an 18th-century Polynesian man, "Portrait of Mai." The seven-foot high (2.1-meter) painting is considered a masterpiece by the renowned portrait artist and is the first known grand depiction of a nonwhite subject in British art. The two institutions announced Wednesday they had each pitched in 25 million pounds to acquire Joshua Reynolds' depiction of an 18th-century Polynesian man, "Portrait of Mai." "It's undisputed how important this is in terms of British art history," National Portrait Gallery director Nicholas Cullinan said. It will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery when it reopens in June after a three-year refurbishment and will tour the U.K. before moving to Los Angeles in 2026.

Source: The Times April 26, 2023 13:45 UTC