A gift?

I read yesterday at reference 1 of a national treasure, a painting by Joshua Reynolds, the property of an Irish billionaire, in danger of leaving the British Isles, possibly ending up in a museum in the US or a private collector. Possibly someone who lives east of Suez. Maybe even an oligarch. Much ink is spilt on how this catastrophe might be averted, the big stumbling block being a price tag of the order of £50m.

But nowhere do I see the idea that this painting might be offered to the people of French Polynesia, a large group of islands, spread over a swathe of the southern Pacific, including both Tahiti and the island that the subject of this painting came from. An amiable and able chap from the middle reaches of the complicated and violent Polynesian society of the 18th century. A gesture of friendship towards the islands with which we once used to meddle and which might one day be independent.

The painting was painted in England well before French Polynesia was invented, so they can hardly claim it as their national treasure. Nevertheless, they might like to take it on as one. Maybe we ought to send some important person to ask them? Perhaps make our former fat leader a special ambassador for the purpose, which would also serve to get him out of the way? 

With the price tag looking quite modest compared with the monies dished out, on his watch, on defective protective clothing.

PS: there are only about a quarter of a million of these Polynesians and it is possible that they would prefer the cash alternative. If this proves to be the case, our ambassador would have to call on the British Council to provide some courses in art appreciation. Possibly delivered from the Royal Yacht or something of that sort. We do not expect people to look our gift horses in the mouth.

References

Reference 1: Joshua Reynolds’ ‘Portrait of Omai’ is a national treasure. Why is Britain struggling to keep it: The fight to save the iconic work reflects a painful truth about the UK’s financial state - John Gapper, Financial Times - 2023.

Reference 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Omai. As it happens, I have used the snap from the Financial Times, credited to Kemka Ajoku, rather than the one offered here.

Reference 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia.

Reference 4: https://www.commarts.com/fresh/kemka-ajoku. Something about the photographer. Plenty more out there for the curious.