Not currently on display at the V&A

Painting

second half 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Composite animals appear in Mughal painting from the late 16th century onwards. Animals such as camels, elephants and horses are composed of intertwined animals and humans, usually with a human or demon riding them. Here, a noblewoman rides a horse made up of animals and one human whose long hair forms the tail of the horse. Her hunting dog is composed entirely of animals. The meaning of these composite forms has not been established. The painting was produced within the Mughal empire in the late 18th century, perhaps at Murshidabad in Bengal.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, winged lady on composite horse, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, late 18th century
Physical description
Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, a winged lady riding a horse composed on animals.
Dimensions
  • Height: 150mm
  • Width: 82mm
Content description
A winged lady riding a horse composed of animals and one human. Her dog is similarly composed of animals.
Style
Subjects depicted
Summary
Composite animals appear in Mughal painting from the late 16th century onwards. Animals such as camels, elephants and horses are composed of intertwined animals and humans, usually with a human or demon riding them. Here, a noblewoman rides a horse made up of animals and one human whose long hair forms the tail of the horse. Her hunting dog is composed entirely of animals. The meaning of these composite forms has not been established. The painting was produced within the Mughal empire in the late 18th century, perhaps at Murshidabad in Bengal.
Other number
9281 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
AL.9281A

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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