The Elephant of Maharana Jai Singh of Mewar (r. 1680–98) Catches a Horse by the Tail
Unknown Artist
c. 1680
Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
page: 31.1 × 49.2 cm · miniature: 27 × 45.4 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
2018.137
About this artwork
The elephant driver holds his hands and the goad helplessly up in the air as the frenzied royal elephant grabs the tail of a galloping horse with its trunk. The horse rider turns around in astonishment and tries to whip the elephant’s trunk. A group of royal servants run erratically and try to contain the elephant.