id: 163580 accession number: 2005.1 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2005.1 updated: 2023-03-20 10:12:15.774000 Two Elephants Fighting in a Courtyard Before Muhammad Shah, c. 1730–40. Attributed to Nainsukh (Indian, 1710–1778). Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; overall: 62.5 x 42 cm (24 5/8 x 16 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 2005.1 title: Two Elephants Fighting in a Courtyard Before Muhammad Shah title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1730–40 creation date earliest: 1725 creation date latest: 1745 current location: creditline: John L. Severance Fund copyright: --- culture: Northern India, Himachal Pradesh, Guler technique: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Nainsukh (Indian, 1710–1778) - artist --- measurements: Overall: 62.5 x 42 cm (24 5/8 x 16 9/16 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Indian Gallery 242 Rotation – April-November 2018 opening date: 2018-04-02T04:00:00 Indian Gallery 242 Rotation – April-November 2018. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 2-November 18, 2018). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: 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 to keep them under control. The intensity of the fight—captured at a moment when one mahout, or elephant trainer, has dropped his goad and is about to jump off—is augmented by the dense colors and forms in contrast to the otherwise pale planes, balanced only by the strip of palace windows. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.1/2005.1_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.1/2005.1_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.1/2005.1_full.tif