1943.40: Attendant on Horseback Subduing an Elephant

Identification and Creation

Object Number

1943.40

Title

Attendant on Horseback Subduing an Elephant

Classification

Albums

Work Type

album folio

Date

16th century

Places

Creation Place: South Asia, India

Period

Mughal period

Culture

Indian

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/216933

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Dimensions

21.7 x 35 cm (8 9/16 x 13 3/4 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, W.M. Prichard Fund

Accession Year

1943

Object Number

1943.40

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Contact

am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Permissions

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Descriptions

Description

A large elephant, with a chain around the front right leg, charges at a man on horseback. The gray horse with white speckles rears and twists its head, mouth agape, to face the elephant. Mounted on the horse is a youth with the turban and black plume that spears the elephant at the base of its trunk in an attempt to placate the enraged creature. On the top of the elephant is a elephant drive (mahout) that holds onto a rope tied as a large harness on the elephant as well as an elephant goad (ankus). The expression on the mahout’s face augments the elephant’s uncontrollability. The elephant’s tusks have been cut, rounded, and fitted with gold rings. The elephant wears a collar of bells and has gold ornaments hanging off its backside.

Exhibition History

• The Spotted Horse in Art, Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, 01/01/1963 - 04/01/1963

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