Wajid-ali-shah, enthroned and seated on an elephant parading through the streets of Lucknow

The present watercolour is a typical Lucknow painting depicting the splendour and extravagance of the Nawab's court. Wajid-ali-shah, the last Nawab of Oudh from 1814 to 1856, is depicted in all his opulence processing through the streets. The figure depicted wearing the crown (designed by Robert Home in 1819) is most probably the heir apparent and the European couple on the Nawab's left are most probably the resident and his wife. The scene depicts nautch girls above the main procession, one supporting the Nawabs parosol and his many wifes are possibly represented by the figures looking on from the windows of the buildings.
Although the architecture is not actually recognisable, it displays many typical Lucknow features and is representative of the flamboyant combination of Mughal and Classical influences popular after 1820.
This is a particulary fine example of Company School painting in Lucknow.