A Prince Riding an Elephant in Procession

Unknown

ca. 1570 · Opaque color and gold on cotton cloth · Islamic Art

Filled with life and variety, this fragment from a larger painting on cloth demonstrates the humanism and individuality of each human and animal figure before Mughal painting settled into more formulaic compositions. 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 superbly painted elephants, including the main pachyderm at center, and animated human figures populate the scene. Although the figure of the main rider is almost entirely flaked, it has been suggested that it could represent Akbar himself, the royal patron of this work.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1570

Medium

Opaque color and gold on cotton cloth

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Howard Hodgkin Collection, Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Acquisitions, 2020 Benefit, and Dodge Funds; Howard S. and Nancy Marks Gift; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; and funds from various donors, 2022