Elephant with Mahout

ca. 1660

Not on view

Mughal elephant portraits are distinguished for their outstanding observation of these majestic animals, dignifying them to the level of high courtiers by recording every feature with sensitivity. Here an imperial elephant stands in profile surmounted by his mahout, whose smaller scale serves to emphasize the grandeur of the majestic animal. The elephant stands untethered, a sign of his maturity and trustworthiness. It is caparisoned with trappings and bells, sacred orange-painted symbols on the face and a double back cover. While the saddle cloths bring in color accents, all other tones and background details are subdued to give the elephant the full importance on the page.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Elephant with Mahout
Date: ca. 1660
Geography: Country of Origin India
Medium: Opaque color and gold on paper
Dimensions: Image: 9 7/16 × 11 1/4 in. (24 × 28.5 cm)
Frame: 16 × 14 1/8 × 11/16 in. (40.6 × 35.9 × 1.7 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
Object Number: 2022.188
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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