Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Single Leaf of Emperor Akbar Controlling an Enraged Elephant
(India, Nepal, and Tibet, Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
The Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1605) tries to control a female elephant that gores the horse of a fallen rider while terrified attendants flee the scene. Akbar brandishes an elephant goad, or hook, similar to the example displayed in the case to your left.
India’s majestic elephants, used in parades, hunting expeditions, and warfare, were frequently associated with royalty. In imperial Mughal biographies, royal historians often connected the emperor’s might to his ability to control and tame nature’s beasts. Akbar’s biographer Abu’l Fazl describes the emperor’s mastery of these powerful animals: “His Majesty mounts every kind of elephant, from the first to the last class, making them, notwithstanding their almost supernatural strength, obedient to his command.”
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore; given to Walters Art Museum, 2001.
Exhibitions
| 2001-2003 | Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal, and Tibet in the John and Berthe Ford Collection. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 6/6/2017 | Examination | examined for exhibition |
Geographies
India (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 1/4 x W: 6 5/16 in. (23.5 x 16 cm); Framed H: 20 1/8 × W: 15 3/16 × D: 1 1/4 in. (51.12 × 38.58 × 3.18 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John and Berthe Ford, 2001
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.873