Artwork Page for An Elephant with Howdah

Details / Information for An Elephant with Howdah

An Elephant with Howdah

c. 1485

Martin Schongauer

(German, c. 1450–1491)
Culture
Germany
Medium
engraving
Measurements
Sheet: 10.8 x 14.6 cm (4 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1927.199
Catalogue raisonné
Lehrs V.339.94
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The howdah is a carriage placed on the back of an elephant and used to transport wealthy people during hunting and warfare.

Description

This print shows an elephant carrying a crenellated and fortified basket—the howdah—from which two very small human figures peer out. In 1483, an elephant was brought to Germany and taken from town to town to be exhibited as a curiosity. It is likely that Martin Schongauer and his brother Ludwig, who were living in Ulm at that time, witnessed the arrival of this exotic animal. While he may have seen the elephant in person, Schongauer's portrayal—with its twisted trunk and shell-like ear—was likely made from memory rather than direct study of the beast.

An Elephant with Howdah

c. 1485

Martin Schongauer

(German, c. 1450–1491)
Germany

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.