Lot 110
A RAJA ON AN ELEPHANT WITH HIS ATTENDANTS
INDIA, RAJASTHAN, BUNDI, CIRCA 1775
Auction: 09 December 2026 from 14:00 GMT
Description
gouache on paper heightened with gold, depicting a Raja in red robes and turban decorated in gold and jewels, in his right hand he holds a flower garland and ankus in his left hand, the elephant is adorned in a blue, yellow and red cloak, and surrounded by attendants who walk alongside, red border with black margin lines, mounted, glazed and framed
Dimensions
32.3cm x 27.7cm
Provenance
Tooth paintings, 33 Cork Street, London, W1X 1HB, 1979.
Formerly, in a private UK collection.
Published:
Exhibition Catalogue, Tooth Paintings Ltd, Indian Paintings from the 17th to 19th centuries including examples from Rajasthan, the Punjab Hills, Deccan and other areas, 9th October to 26th October 1979, cat. No 48.
Footnote
Bundi elephant paintings are characterised by their raw kinetic energy, high drama, and deeply atmospheric backdrops that reject static courtly realism. Unlike the precise anatomical studies of the Mughal school or the structured processions of other Rajput styles, Bundi artists usually depict elephants in moments of intense fury, frantic movement, and emotional distress, utilising heavy ink shading (nimqalam) to give the animals a massive, three-dimensional physical presence. These dynamic creatures are seamlessly embedded into romantic, vivid landscapes often featuring lush vegetation, swirling lotus ponds, and dramatic monsoon or sun-scorched skies where the animals frequently serve as poetic allegories for human emotion and the seasons.