Artwork Page for Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

Details / Information for Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

c. 1761

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput kingdom of Mewar, Udaipur, Court of Ari Singh

(reigned 1761-73)
Medium
gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Painting: 20.6 x 21.4 cm (8 1/8 x 8 7/16 in.); Overall: 24.1 x 25 cm (9 1/2 x 9 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 2005.202
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
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Did You Know?

The name Ramkali is a popular nickname for young girls in some parts of northern India.

Description

The mahout (elephant driver), directs the confident female elephant at a brisk trot, with bells swinging in response to her movements. This painting belongs to a series depicting the elephants in the royal stables at Udaipur, each one named in the upper margin. Elephants have been a potent emblem for royalty in India for more than three thousand years.
A square gum tempera and ink painting depicts a gray elephant walking toward our right across green grass against a pale blue background. A man with a medium skin tone sits on its neck, wearing a green tunic and red cap, holding a hooked tool. The elephant is adorned with gold jewelry and a green saddlecloth with a pink seat. Black Devanagari script runs across the top red border.

Royal Elephant Ramkali with a Mahout

c. 1761

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput kingdom of Mewar, Udaipur, Court of Ari Singh (reigned 1761-73)

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