Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1540 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1985.34
- Credit line
- Purchase, Lita Annenberg Hazen Charitable Trust Gift, 1985
About this work
An army on the move: war elephants with howdahs, charging horses, soldiers in bright armor. Made in India around 1540, likely for a royal patron, in opaque watercolor whose chalk-mixed pigment keeps the colors flat and bright. Fine details like the elephants' caparisons show the care taken.
Subject & Meaning
The painting, dated 1540 and executed in opaque watercolor and ink on paper, portrays Krishna amid a martial scene that includes an army, elephants and horses.
The painting, dated 1540 and executed in opaque watercolor and ink on paper, portrays Krishna amid a martial scene that includes an army, elephants and horses. Its composition aligns with the history‑painting genre, suggesting a narrative of historic or mythological conflict. The presence of Krishna, the Hindu deity associated with divine warfare, combined with the martial attributes, conveys themes of heroic battle and divine intervention.
The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as an anonymous piece from the mid‑sixteenth century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1540 by an anonymous artist, this work is executed as an opaque watercolor and ink painting on paper. The piece functions as a history painting, characterized by its depiction of a dynamic battle scene featuring Krishna, an army, elephants, and horses. The medium of opaque watercolor allows for the layering of pigments to achieve depth and solidity within the composition, while the ink likely provides the structural outlines and detailing necessary for the narrative action.
The support of paper suggests a portable format typical of manuscript illumination or album leaves from the period. As a historical depiction, the formal qualities emphasize the movement of the army and the presence of the divine figure Krishna amidst the chaos of combat, utilizing the specific properties of water-based pigments to render the scene.
History & Provenance
The work known as Untitled was produced in 1540 by an anonymous painter using opaque watercolor and ink on paper. Its subject shows Krishna accompanied by an army, elephants, and horses in a battle scene. The painting is classified as a history painting and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, which records its inception on 1540‑01‑01.
No documentation of a specific commission or subsequent ownership transfers is available; the museum’s records simply list the piece as belonging to its permanent holdings.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is also located. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the institution maintains custody of this 1540 opaque watercolor and ink painting. The provided sources confirm the museum's ownership and location but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this piece.
Overview
This untitled Indian painting, created around 1540, depicts a dynamic military procession. Executed with opaque watercolor and ink on paper, the work captures an army in motion, featuring war elephants, charging horses, and armored soldiers. Its vibrant palette and intricate details suggest a commission for a discerning patron.
Artist & collection
