Cleveland Museum of Art

Two Elephants in Combat

Date

1700–1730

Medium

ink on paper

Culture

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Kota

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Elephants were prized possessions for the Rajput Maharajas of Rajasthan. Not only were elephants a decisive factor in the battlefield, but also represented the owner’s material wealth. Elephant fights were a favorite amusement of the Maharaja, and certain elephants were trained specially for this purpose. The drawing depicts two elephants in combat with each other with their trunks intertwined. The elephants have been shackled at their back feet to keep them from running free.

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