Artwork
Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

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















