Two Elephants Fighting in a Courtyard Before Muhammad Shah
Nainsukh (Indian, 1710–1778)
c. 1730–40
Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
62.5 × 42 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
2005.1.a
Tags
male
About this artwork
The Mughal emperor responsible for a revival of courtly arts and pastimes was Muhammad Shah (reigned 1719–48). This painting was made by an artist from a small kingdom in the western Himalayas who stayed at the Mughal court in Delhi and painted scenes of his experiences. Like his predecessors, Muhammad Shah enjoyed watching elephant fights. He is shown in his window of public audience, marked by a golden carpet, smoking a hookah. Women from his harem can be seen looking on from behind painted sc...