Harvard Art Museums > 2009.202.99: Soldiers at a Palace Entrance Gate Drawings Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Soldiers at a Palace Entrance Gate (Unknown Artist) , 2009.202.99,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, May 02, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/217513. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2009.202.99 People Unknown Artist Title Soldiers at a Palace Entrance Gate Classification Drawings Work Type drawing Date 18th century Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Kota Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/217513 Physical Descriptions Medium Ink and opaque watercolor on paper; Rajput Style, Kota School Dimensions 21.4 x 9 cm (8 7/16 x 3 9/16 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History Stuart Cary Welch (by 1969 - 2008,) by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum. Notes: Object was part of temporary loan to Museum in 1969. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Gift of Edith I. Welch in memory of Stuart Cary Welch Accession Year 2009 Object Number 2009.202.99 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description A group of soldiers gather around an entrance gate to a palace. The gate is topped with a large chhatri (canopy), a large, dome-like structure that commonly adorns Indian architecture. At the top of the arched entrance are two elephants facing each other with their trunks raised, a common motif to signify the entrance to a palace. The open door to the gate reveals a small niche in which an orange statue of the Hindu god Ganesh sits. Ganesh is revered as the remover of obstacles and one who gives luck and blessings. Thus, it is common to find him at the entrance of every home and temple in India. The soldiers are depicted in various dress. Some wear mail shirts, helmets with large plumes, and wield swords. A group is dressed in orange robes (jama) with red turbans. They carry long spears and maces. One in particular carries a tiger-headed mace which is used in processions to signify the arrival of royalty, nobility, or someone of high-ranking military status. The third group wears green robes and red turbans. Some carry matchlock guns, while others carry swords. Rajput Style, Kota School. Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
