THE MUGHAL EMPEROR JAHANGIR TAMING AN ELEPHANT
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
Delhi, Mughal India, late 18th - early 19th century

Opaque pigments and ink heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting a crowded outdoor scene with a young Mughal emperor, possibly Jahangir, showing off his prowess by taming a wild elephant in the middle ground, the two mahouts (elephant riders) on the left-hand-side giving indications to the ruler, the rest of the exalted and agitated crowd of foot attendants moving their arms in the air, partly giving directions to the ruler and partly adding to the overall chaos, some faces painted in complete disbelief, set withing golden and blue rules, and an illuminated dark blue border with scrolling vegetal sprays, mounted, glazed and framed, the painting 31.5cm x 20.5cm, 44.2cm x 32cm including the frame.

Provenance: Private German Collection.