Omai, a native of Ulaietea

This engraving was produced by Francesco Bartolozzi after an original sketch by Nathaniel Dance. Bartolozzi emigrated to London from Florence in 1764. He established a successful business producing high quality engravings of works by well known contemporary painters, including Joshua Reynolds and Bartolozzi's friend and fellow Florentine Giovanni Battista Cipriani. His work was much in demand from London printsellers, such as Thomas Macklin of Fleet Street.

In 1774 Omai (c. 1753-80) became the first Tahitian to visit England. Published shortly after his arrival in London, this engraving depicts him as the 'Noble Savage', in exotic dress with tattoos on his hands,apparently untouched by European civilisation. Omai met the officers of the Adventure and the Resolution when the ships arrived at the island of Huahine in 1773 during Captain Cook's second voyage. The Adventure's Captain, Tobias Furneaux, convinced Omai to accompany him to England. In the course of the journey Omai learned English from one of Adventure's other officers, Lieutenant James Burney, brother of the writer Fanny Burney.

Upon his arrival Omai met John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich and First Lord of the Admiralty, the naturalist Joseph Banks and the Swedish botanist Daniel Solander, who became his patrons. Banks and Solander visited Tahiti when Cook's ship the Endeavour landed there in 1769. Banks and Solander introduced Omai to a number of prominent figures in Georgian society, including Dr Samuel Johnson and Granville Sharp. He was also presented at the court of George III.

A full length portrait of Omai was painted by Joshua Reynolds, the most successful English portrait artist of the period.

Omai returned home in 1777 on the Resolution accompanying Captain Cook on his final, fatal voyage to the South Sea. In 1785 a pantomime 'Omai: Or, A Trip Around the World' was performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.