A Male Blue-Skinned God Riding an Elephant Composed of Nine Female Figures, Tanjore, South India, Mid 19th Century

An Elephant Composed of Women with its Rider, Tanjore, South India, Mid 19th Century

Source: christies.com/

A Horse Composed of Five Women wiith, Tanjore, South India, Mid 19th Century

A Horse Composed of Five Women wiith, Tanjore, South India, Mid 19th Century

Source: christies.com/

Brahma, Creator of the Universe, Riding on a Goose - c1720

Brahma, Creator of the Universe, Riding on a Goose - c1720

Medium: Gouache on paper
Source: ashmolean.org

Moon God Holding a Lotus and Riding a Blackbuck within the Face of a Full Moon - Ragamala Series, Basohli c1680

Moon God Holding a Lotus and Riding a Blackbuck within the Face of a Full Moon - Ragamala Series, Basohli c1680

Medium: Gouache on paper
Ragamala (‘Garland of Ragas’) paintings were believed to depict the essential qualities of the ragas or musical modes, which in the Punjab Hills were grouped with their ‘wives’ and ‘sons’ (ragini and ragaputra) in extended series of 84 pictures. Here the mode Chandra (moon), which is performed in the hours after midnight, is shown as the moon god holding a lotus and riding a blackbuck within the face of a full moon.

Source: ashmolean.org/

Maharaja Suraj Mal with a Hawk - Pahari Painting c1730 - 1740

Maharaja Suraj Mal with a Hawk - Pahari Painting c1730 - 1740

Suraj Mal (r.1613-1618) was an early Nurpur ruler who died in exile after rebelling against the emperor Jahangir. In this posthumous portrait of the jharoka window type, the veteran warrior strokes the breast of his prize hawk. Pahari rulers were often portrayed with a hawk or falcon, as a mark of their hunting prowess and regal demeanour.

Medium: Gouache with gold on paper
Source: ashmolean.org