Artwork

A Raja on an Elephant

A Raja on an Elephant, by Unknown, 1690
A Raja on an Elephant, by Unknown, 1690

A Raja on an Elephant is a drawing by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Look up the subject “rajasthan, ajmer area, possibly sawar school, late 17th century” to see more works like this.

You see a ruler in a gold turban riding a gray elephant through a flat, green landscape.

The painting comes from a time when local artists in Rajasthan worked for royal courts, not museums. They used bright colors and simple shapes to tell stories about power and pride. The elephant’s tiny eyes and the ruler’s calm face make the scene feel quiet, not loud.

Look up the subject “rajasthan, ajmer area, possibly sawar school, late 17th century” to see more works like this.

Overview

A Raja on an Elephant is a drawing depicting a ruler on an elephant. The scene is set in a flat, green landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing shows a ruler, identifiable by his gold turban, riding a gray elephant. The calm expressions on the faces of both the ruler and the elephant convey a sense of serenity.

Technique & Style

The artwork is characterized by the use of bright colors and simple shapes, typical of the style employed by local artists in Rajasthan during the late 17th century.

Context

This drawing was likely created for a royal court, as artists in Rajasthan at the time worked primarily for such patrons, producing works that often told stories about power and pride.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.