Two Elephants Fighting in a Courtyard Before Muhammad Shah
1735
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
1735
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Two Elephants Fighting in a Courtyard Before Muhammad Shah is a 1735 unspecified by Nainsukh, a Baroque work, depicting Guler, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see two elephants fighting in a courtyard with people watching. The painting shows a specific event, with the emperor watching from a window. The artist included details like a golden carpet and women looking on from behind a screen, which suggests the emperor's wealth and power. To learn more about this style, look up the artist: Nainsukh (Indian, 1710–1778)
The Mughal emperor responsible for a revival of courtly arts and pastimes was Muhammad Shah (reigned 1719–48). This painting was made by an artist from a small kingdom in the western Himalayas who stayed at the Mughal court in Delhi and painted scenes of his experiences. Like his predecessors, Muhammad Shah enjoyed watching elephant fights. He is shown in his window of public audience, marked by a golden carpet, smoking a hookah. Women from his harem can be seen looking on from behind painted screens. Two pairs of men hold fire brands and spears to prevent the elephants from running off and…
Read the full account in the museum source.
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