Artwork

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout, by Unknown, unspecified, 1761
Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout, by Unknown, unspecified, 1761

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1761 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout is a painting depicting a female elephant and her driver. The work is part of a series of portraits of elephants from the royal stables of Udaipur.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a mahout guiding a large gray elephant, Ramkali, at a brisk pace. Elephants have long been a symbol of royal power in India, and the king maintained detailed records of the animals in his stables.

Technique & Style

The artist has captured the movement of the elephant, with bells on her harness depicted in motion. The elephant's name is written in the upper margin, a feature common to the series.

History & Provenance

The painting dates to the 1700s and originates from Udaipur, where it was part of a larger series documenting the royal elephants.

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.