Harvard Art Museums > 2009.202.124: Preparatory Drawing of an Elephant Combat 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"Preparatory Drawing of an Elephant Combat (Unknown Artist) , 2009.202.124,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, May 09, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/217616. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2009.202.124 People Unknown Artist Title Preparatory Drawing of an Elephant Combat Classification Drawings Work Type drawing Date c. 1740 Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Kota Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/217616 Physical Descriptions Medium Ink and opaque watercolor on paper; Rajput Style, Kota School Dimensions 17 x 15 cm (6 11/16 x 5 7/8 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 2009.202.124 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 At the center of the page are two large elephants on their back legs and colliding with each other. Lines of red and black demonstrate the artist working, reworking, and detailing the figures. The traces of opaque white watercolor around the bottom edges of the elephant on the right show the artist masking his changes to the figure. The immense impact of the elephants is signified through the sketched-out elephant drivers (mahouts), who lean back with their arms in the air. Each elephant driver carries an elephant goad (ankus) in his hand, which is used to control and manipulate the animal’s movement. There is an attendant holding onto the back of the elephant on the right. In the bottom left corner is a sketched-out platform with a group of figures. These figures, which are roughly sketched, bear suggestions of wearing turbans and carrying shields. 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
