A tiger-hunt thumbnail 1
A tiger-hunt thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

A tiger-hunt

Watercolour
ca. 1892 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a rare example of a Panjabi Company Painting. Company Painting (paintings made by Indian artists for the British) was widespread throughout most parts of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th and, especially, 19th centuries. However, it was much less common in the Panjab, which only came under British sovereignty in 1849.

This painting depicts a tiger-hunt and is precisely dated 'VS 1949' (the equivalent of 1892). A European is leaning from the howdah of his elephant to shoot the tiger. The tiger is springing from long grass and clawing at the elephant's head. The mahout (driver) recoils or is perhaps preparing to strike the tiger with his elephant-goad. A bearded European watches from the howdah of a second elephant.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA tiger-hunt (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache on paper
Brief description
A tiger-hunt, opaque water colour on paper, Punjab, ca. 1892
Physical description
Two Europeans on a tiger hunt are depicted on elephants with Indians assisting them.
Dimensions
  • Height: 356mm (maximum)
  • Width: 259mm (maximum)
  • Image within innermost painted borders height: 342mm
  • Image within innermost painted borders width: 255mm
19/06/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013
Style
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a rare example of a Panjabi Company Painting. Company Painting (paintings made by Indian artists for the British) was widespread throughout most parts of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th and, especially, 19th centuries. However, it was much less common in the Panjab, which only came under British sovereignty in 1849.

This painting depicts a tiger-hunt and is precisely dated 'VS 1949' (the equivalent of 1892). A European is leaning from the howdah of his elephant to shoot the tiger. The tiger is springing from long grass and clawing at the elephant's head. The mahout (driver) recoils or is perhaps preparing to strike the tiger with his elephant-goad. A bearded European watches from the howdah of a second elephant.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Mapin Publishing, 1992 174 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.60-1968

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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