The Elephant

Name/Title

The Elephant

Entry/Object ID

1998.09.26

Description

The painting depicts a large, stylized elephant standing prominently on the right side. The elephant is painted in dark blue with intricate detailing along the edges of its body. Its large eye and ear are highlighted with contrasting colors. A smaller figure stands below the elephant, raising both arms in a gesture of interaction or reverence, dressed in vibrant pink, yellow, and green attire.

Type of Painting

Watercolor

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper

Subject

The Elephant

Subject Place

Country

India

Acquisition

Accession

1998.09

Source or Donor

Derek Davenport

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Derek Davenport

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Region

Madhubani

Country

India

Notes

Traditionally produced by women, Madhubani/Mithila paintings are identifiable by bright colors, geometric patterning, and two-dimensionality.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Note, Attribution

Location

Back Upper Left Corner

Transcription

THE ELEPHANT

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pen

Type

Note

Location

Back Bottom Right Corner

Transcription

DAD 1998.09.26

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pencil

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

22 in

Width

30 in

Provenance

Notes

Derek Davenport (1927-2017), West Lafayette, Indiana; donated to the Purdue University Galleries in 1998