Folio from the Gulshan Album (Rose Garden album); recto: Elephant and trainer; verso: Quatrain in nasta'liq allegedly by Mir 'Ali al-Katib
Type: Album folio with painting
Maker(s):
   Artist: Attributed to Farrukh Chela
   Calligrapher: Calligraphy by Mir Ali al-Katib (died 1559-60 (AH 937))
Historical period(s): Mughal dynasty, Reign of Akbar, Calligraphy ca.1540; "Chained Elephant" ca.1590, borders added ca. 1600
Movement: Mughal Court
School: Mughal School
Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
Dimensions: Height x Width (overall): 42.5 x 26.5 cm (16 3/4 x 10 7/16 in)
Geography: India
Collection: Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number: F1956.12
Label: The Mughal emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605–27) was keenly interested in genre episodes and scenes rendered with naturalism. This painting of a mahout training his elephant was inserted into an album made for Jahangir and is attributed to the court artist Farrukh. The chained elephant, depicted in muted colors and in a linear style, would have appealed to the artistic taste of the emperor. Fantastic rock formations show the influence of Persian and Chinese traditions.
Source: Freer Gallery, Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art. F1956.12