Captain James Tod riding an elephant with his companions and escort
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1820
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Captain James Tod riding an elephant with his companions and escort is a 1820 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
Captain James Tod sits high on an elephant in this scene. He’s dressed for travel, with a long coat and hat. Four British officers ride horses beside him. Five men carry a litter on poles. The whole group moves through a rocky, green landscape. This painting shows British officers in India in the early 1800s. It’s likely a copy of a work by artist Chokha, who worked in Udaipur and Devgarh. Look for another scene of British officers in India at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
A processional scene depicts Captain James Tod riding an elephant, accompanied by Captain Waugh, Dr Duncan, and Lieutenant Carey on horseback, along with additional horsemen and five footmen carrying a palanquin. The painting was presented to Rawat Gokul Das of Devgarh, and it is likely a contemporary copy of another work by the artist Chokha. The execution suggests it was produced by a lesser-known artist trained in Udaipur.
Read the full account in the museum source.
