Elephants fighting

Elephants fighting

22.5 x 27.7 cm

Gouache with gold on paper

Elephant fights were a popular court entertainment in Mughal times. Here a tussle between elephants is becoming lively, as the mahouts urge their beasts on or hang on grimly to the harness ropes. Unusually this painting is ascribed to a woman artist, Khurshid Banu. Several ladies of the Mughal imperial household are known to have been skilled painters.

To view a high-resolution version of this image and for further information please visit the Yousef Jameel Online Centre at the Ashmolean.