2-738-963 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Rao Ram Singh’s Elephant Gone Amok, c. 1700. The maddened elephant’s ears flex forward and his tail rises up as he charges with little heed to the ropes, spears, and firebrands meant to control him. A deft use of line and crosshatching creates a sense of volume and dramatic areas of dense shadow. Spare but effective use of gold, as in the gleaming eye, further affirms the artist’s mastery of his subject, evident despite the stains and tears. One of a few drawings that survive from an anonymous Kota master, this example conveys the energy and ferocity of this elephant’s maddened condition with intensity and power.