Hunt Scene (Procession with Elephants)

Painting

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Hunt Scene (Procession with Elephants)

Entry/Object ID

2017.05.09

Description

The painting depicts an elaborate hunting scene. Three elephants adorned with ornate saddles and blankets, carrying royal figures dressed in traditional Mughal attire are featured. The elephants are accompanied by a procession of figures on horseback, all engaged in the hunt with weapons drawn, including spears and bows.

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper, Gouache

Subject Place

Country

India

Acquisition

Accession

2017.05

Source or Donor

Derek Davenport

Made/Created

Place

Country

India

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Religious Text

Translation

On reverse, a religious text about the Ascension into heaven of the prophet Muhammad Poem: The body of the Prophet was emptied of all the worldly and material [things] Like dust, his body was blown away/brushed away la metaphor for worldly and material things). He was not headed in any direction because there is nowhere to head— [in other words - he was frozen in his tracks] And [he whose presence is everywhere] the Omnipresent (God] appeared. Being immersed in a sea (Divine) light of light, the Prophet thought it was a dream or a figment of his imagination. His two eyes saw a beam of was immersed in this light The viewer [the Prophet] who witnessed this Divine sight was welcomed by God and his whole existence The Seventh saying? He certainly saw God and we hope to reach this state and see Him as well. When the Prophet saw the beautiful appearance of God, he was in awe of His beauty- so he forgot to prostrate. Instead, he will prostrate in the desert [on the Day of Judgement) and ask for forgiveness of his sins... According to the wise men: it would be better to prostrate on the Day of Judgement but only God knows... and material desires... The Prophet was so awestruck and stunned by the light and beauty of God that he abstained from worldly On the Day of Judgement, the day that all hopes and needs will be fulfilled, his prayers must be directed to God and he will plead for forgiveness when he prostrates According to other wise men: The Prophet reflected and was overcome by his own inner spiritual transformation after this witnessing sight—that is why he did not realize that he forgot to prostrate. While according to other wise men: "God positioned the Prophet at a place where he could speak to him. In this case, the Prophet was awestruck by the words of God and benefited from this wisdom. Therefore, he lost himself and did not prostrate. This does not mean he disobeyed God but his omission was because of his state [of mind] at that time. Fixed duty What is said regarding the mi'raj of the Prophet includes sixteen points The first ... According to the Prophet's words - During the night of the mi'raj he miraculously crossed different levels of the heavens and the angels of each level read suras from the Qur'an to him The angels of the first heaven of creation read the sura of Tabaruk (Sura 67) The angels of the second heaven read the sura of Yasin (Sura 36) The angels of the third heaven read the sura of Fatir (Sura 35). The angels of the fourth heaven read Sura al-Tawr (Sura 52). The angels of the fifth heaven read the Sura al-Rahman (Sura 55). The angels of the sixth heaven read Sura al-Adha Wagi'a (Sura 56) And the angels of the seventh heaven read Sura al-Hashr (Sura 59) After that the angels prayed to God and sent me [the Prophet] and the people (Muslims) blessings and asked for forgiveness of their sins... I asked the angels, "Oh angels- since when have you been praying for me and asking for forgiveness of my sins? The angels of the first heaven said: "five years before Adam was created" The angels of the second heaven said: ten years The angels of the third heaven said: fifteen years The angels of the fourth heaven said: twenty years

Material/Technique

In Artist's Hand

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

13-3/8 in

Width

11-1/4 in

Provenance

Notes

Derek Davenport (1927-2017), West Lafayette, Indiana; by descent to Susan Davenport, Indianapolis, Indiana; donated to the Purdue University Galleries in 2017

Exhibitions

Paintings from India: Historical and Modern (2019)

Mughal Miniatures

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition label

Label

(From Paintings from India: Historical and Modern Reuff West Feb 11-22, 2019): Gouache painting on paper In the middle zone of a landscape, a procession of black elephants with riders moves rightward, with attention focused on the largest animal in the center, framed by smaller elephants in front and behind. All three animals are draped with colorful cloths, and the central elephant has chains around its legs and attached bells. Its princely rider is finely dressed and is adorned with a string of pearls around his neck, as he uses a goad or metal hook (ankus) to drive his elephant. A servant astride the animal's rump fans his master with a feathery plume, and all of the elephant riders wear a rounded cap or turban that bulges behind. Above and below the main group appear attendants on horseback and on foot, the latter carrying long, pointed staffs. The landscape recedes toward a rolling, colored terrain punctuated with trees, and in the upper left can be seen a distant castle.