A prince riding a composite elephant
1590
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1590
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a prince riding an elephant made of other animals—tiny deer, fish, and birds all fit together like a puzzle. Golden rings decorate the tusks, and attendants guide the creature with a long pole. This painting comes from the Deccan region of India, where artists loved hidden images. The elephant isn’t just an elephant; it’s a game of "find the creatures inside." The prince sits calmly, as if this were normal. To see more like this, look up subject: india, golconda, deccan, 16th century.
