A PROCESSION WITH A RAJPUT MAHARAJA ON ELEPHANT'S BACK
Mewar, Rajasthan, North-Western India, second half 19th century

Opaque pigments, black ink and gold on paper, the large vertical composition depicting a processional scene with a Rajput ruler with a golden halo seated on an elephant, directing the animal with a steel ankus (goad), behind him a male attendant holding a white fly-whisk, the ruler preceded and followed by several loyal attendants on foot carrying spears, a caparisoned palanquin, a ceremonial shield, and two hunting hounds wearing embroidered coats, set against a green hilly vegetal background with a high horizon line, the back with an inscription in black ink Devanagari script with the name of the ruler (Shri Savant Raja?), mounted on a later taupe cardboard frame, 46cm x 36cm including the frame.

For a similar example recently offered at auction in London, please see Roseberys, 14 June 2022, lot 161.