Filled with life and variety, this fragment from a larger painting on cloth—which dates to a period before Mughal art settled into more formulaic compositions—demonstrates the humanism and individuality of each person and animal figure. Its merit lies not just in representation and reportage but in a joyous and energetic capturing of the scene, right down to the baby elephant. Other animated human figures and superbly painted elephants, including the main pachyderm at center, populate the vignette. The figure of the main rider, which has almost entirely flaked off, may have represented Akbar himself, the royal patron of this work.
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Title:A Prince Riding an Elephant in Procession
Date:ca. 1570
Geography:Country of Origin India
Medium:Opaque color and gold on cotton cloth
Dimensions:Image: Ht. 13 3/8 in. (34 cm) W. 15 11/16 in. (39.8 cm) Frame: Ht. 21 1/8 in. (53.7 cm) W. 18 7/8 in. (47.9 cm) D. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)
Classification:Codices
Credit Line:Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions, Harris Brisbane Dick, and 2020 Benefit Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks, Lila Acheson Wallace, and Friends of Islamic Art Gifts; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; and funds from various donors, 2022
Accession Number:2022.173
Lady Herringham, England(until d. 1929); bequeathed to Bedford College for Women, London University, London (1929–1982); [ Terence McInerney, New York; from 1982]; Howard Hodgkin, London (by 1985–d. 2017); Howard Hodgkin Indian Collection Trust, London (2017–2022; sold to MMA)
Gray, Basil. "A New Mughal Painting on Stuff." Ars Islamica vol. 4 (1937). pp. 459–61, ill. pp. 463–64, figs 1–2 (b/w).
Barrett, Douglas, and Basil Gray. Painting of India. Geneva: Skira, 1963. no. 78, no ill.
Ashton, Leigh, Sir, ed. "A commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947–48." In The Art of India and Pakistan. London, 1950. no. 644, pp. 143–44, no ill.
Ray, Niharranjan. Mughal court painting : a study in social and formal analysis. 1st ed. Calcutta: Indian Museum, Kolkata, 1975. pp. 136–39, no ill.
McInerney, Terence, ed. Indian Painting 1525–1825. London: David Carritt Ltd., 1982. no. 2, pp. 14–17.
Brand, Michael, and Glenn D. Lowry. "Art from the Mughal City of Victory." In Akbar's India. New York: Asia Society, 1985. no. 24, pp. 64, 142.
Topsfield, Andrew, and Milo C. Beach. "Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 15 Sept. 1991–12 Jan. 1992." In Indian Paintings and Drawings from the Collection of Howard Hodgkin. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 1991. no. 2, pp. 22–23, ill.
Filippi, Gian Giuseppe, ed. "Museo di Castelvecchio, Verona, April 30–Aug. 3, 1997." In Indian Miniatures and Paintings from the 16th to the 19th century : The Collection of Howard Hodgkin. Milano, 1997. no. 26, pp. 70–71.
Topsfield, Andrew. "The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, February 2-–April 22, 2012." In Visions of Mughal India: The Collection of Howard Hodgkin. Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2012. no. 4, pp. 22–23, 30–31, ill.
Guy, John, and Navina Haidar. Indian Skies : The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting (Winter 2024). pp. 10–11, ill. fig. 11.
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
ca. 1430–40
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