Doctor Solander (1733–1782) was a Swedish naturalist, he famously travelled across the world with Captain Cook and James Banks. He reported 30,000 different plant species.
The image below depicts Omai, Sir Joseph Banks, and Dr Daniel Solander sitting in red.
Omai is a Tahitian man and was brought to England in 1774 to 1776.
This image can even suggest that Solander is classifying Omai as a flower specimen as he would for flowers in taxonomy work.
Letter from Phillis Wheatley to David Wooster, 18 October 1773
“Then to Lord Lincoln, who visited me at my own Lodgings with the Famous Dr. Solander, who accompany'd Mr. Banks in his late expedition round the World.”
The full letter is accessible with this link below! Im very grateful for the Massachusetts Historical Society for allowing me to quote these letters as well as having loads of primary sources and educational information on Wheatley available for free.
More information and image home of the painting: https://www.artuk.org/discover/artworks/omai-c-1753c-17761777-sir-joseph-banks-17431820-and-dr-daniel-solander-17361782-10128
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