Elephant Rescues Hunter From Lion Attack, British India, 1837 Painting
This 1837 British India-era watercolour painting depicts an elephant rescuing a hunter from a lion attack. The beautiful painting shows a lion almost pounces on a European hunter before an elephant and its mahout comes to his rescue.
On the reverse is another watercolour painting that of a pensive European Lady. The artwork is said to have been painted by the talented Major A.C. Hutchinson. Not much is known of Hutchinson except that he was under the East India Company‘s Bengal Artillery unit.
Art in the 19th century was not widespread amongst Indians, except for some, like the great Raja Ravi Varma. An exceptionally gifted painter from Travancore (Kerala). Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings produced a mass hysteria of sorts for the lifelike images he had created on the canvas. He is still revered as one of the greatest painters India has ever produced. Click on the image to enlarge.
Also read Exploring the Vibrant World of Indian Art: Watercolor Paintings that Captivate.
From the collection – Iron Pillar & Arch At Qutub Minar – Old Photo 1880., Madras Boat Club Adyar, Old Postcard 1900., Crawford Market Mumbai – Rare Old Print 1874., Arrival Of Fiat Trucks Bombay, Old Postcard 1915.
