Fantastic Beasts – Second Edition
For our 40th issue of Spotlight, we’re revisiting a theme we first explored back in 2019: the magnificent beasts who have charmed us with their form and spirit over the ages.
Elephants
Lord and Lady Curzon atop the elephant Lakshman Prasad, 29 December 1902
The Delhi Durbar of 1902-3 was conceived of by Lord Curzon to take place in December and January to celebrate the succession of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark to the throne of Emperor and Empress of India. The King and the Queen, however, did not attend the Durbar, but instead sent Prince Arthur, Duke… Read more »
March of the Mammoth, the Indian elephant’s story
No animal looms as large over the art, architecture, iconography, folklore and literature of the Indian subcontinent as Elephas maximus
Fairytale Wedding
When it came to royal wedding spectacles in the last century, Mysore’s maharajas knew how to put on a show
Aussicht Von Goa
This is an engraving after an older one by Jean Bellin, the official engraver and cartographer of the king of France. It is a town plan of Goa in the panorama view including mountains, trees, buildings, elephants, ships in the harbor, boats resting on the shore, and religious buildings. It depicts the fort of Goa,… Read more »
Gond: Dancing Elephants
This image is created by Durga Bai shows three figures who look like Ganesha dancing with two elephants. The painting is monochromatic, and the artist has experimented with the execution style including a wavy pattern, apart from the traditional dashes and the dots. One of the three Ganeshas stands atop the composite trunk of two… Read more »
Krishna Raja Wodeyar, Copper 20 Cash, Type IV of Mysore Mint
This is a rare copper coin issued by the monarch of Mysore state Krishnaraja Wodeyar. On the obverse is inscribed the official emblem of the elephant executed in intricate detail, with two lines of inscriptions on top. The line on the top has the word “Shri” inscribed between the sun and the moon. The reverse… Read more »
View of Lucknow
During the Uprising of 1857, events in the city of Lucknow took a rather violent turn. As the news of the Uprising broke, the British officials and their families took shelter in the Residency, while the rebelling soldiers blocked every means of outside contact for them and continued their attacks for over 90 days. A… Read more »
Attack on the Mutineers at Cawnpore
Kanpur was the scene of a massacre after the city’s besieged occupants, including women and children, surrendered to the revlting natives on 27 June 1857. The recapture of the city then and the avenging of the massacre became a primary objective of the British officials. The city was retaken from the natives on 16 July… Read more »
Chera, Copper, Un-inscribed
The Chera dynasty ruled in southern India during the Sangam age between 3rd Century BC and 9th Century AD. During this time, the biggest empires in the region were the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. The Cheras, who controlled the west Malabar coast, were the first powerful dynasty from Kerala and hence given the moniker Keralaputras,… Read more »
Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, 5 Cash Type IV
The Wodeyars of Mysore issued a number of copper coins in various denominations. The most common numismatic device employed was the elephant. This copper coin issued by Krishna Raja Wodeyar III shows on the obverse an elephant facing the left and laden with ornaments. On the reverse is a three-line Kanarese legend and the lettering… Read more »
Krishna Raja Wodeyar, Copper, 5 Cash, Type III
The Wodeyars of Mysore issued a number of copper coins in various denominations. The obverse of this copper coin issued by Krishna Raja Wodeyar depicts a caparisoned elephant with the Kanarese numeral one. On the reverse a three-line Kanarese legend and the lettering “5 Cash” – denoting the denomination, but has worn off.