Akbar Supervising the Capture of Wild Elephants at Malwa Canvas Cloth Print, c.1602

Provenance

This dynamic court painting illustrates an episode from the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, depicting the royal capture of wild elephants in Malwa in 1564. Akbar appears mounted on horseback, overseeing the operation as trained elephants and handlers pursue a herd through an expansive landscape. The scene was originally created as part of the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar), the official chronicle commissioned to record the emperor’s achievements and establish a visual history of his rule.

Produced shortly before Akbar’s death, the painting belongs to the mature phase of Mughal manuscript painting, when imperial ateliers combined meticulous observation with increasingly sophisticated narrative compositions. The artists attributed to the work—including Farukh Chela, Govardhan, and Dhanraj—were among the accomplished painters associated with the Mughal court, where large collaborative workshops brought together masters of portraiture, landscape, and decorative detail.

The composition also reflects the cosmopolitan nature of Akbar’s empire. European prints circulating within the imperial collection influenced the rendering of distant cityscapes, rolling hills, and atmospheric depth, demonstrating how Mughal artists absorbed and transformed foreign visual ideas into a distinctly Indian courtly style.

Disclaimer:

• The frames shown are for display purposes only and are not included with the artwork.
• As these are made-to-order designer pieces, expect minor colour variations from the displayed artwork.