A PORTRAIT OF THE ELEPHANT ARIDALAN CRUSHER OF ENEMIES

KISHANGHAR, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A PORTRAIT OF THE ELEPHANT ARIDALAN CRUSHER OF ENEMIES
KISHANGHAR, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Opaque pigment on paper, depicted richly caparisoned, with a howdah and hanging brass bells, his tusks fitted with gold, a mahout astride holding an ankus, three lines of black devanagari script above and below, in black rules and yellow margins
11 1/8 x 8 7/8in. (28.2 x 22.6cm.)

Lot Essay

The devanagari inscriptions translate as "the elephant destroyer of the enemies, seven trunks high, lord of the top-knot, maker of a great noise (?)' and 'his long tusks are terrifying on release (?)'.
A handwritten note in pencil on the reverse reads 'Elephant Aridalan, Crusher of enemies, Seven feet high, Kishanghar ca.1770'.

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