Procession (detail), Tomasso Colonnello, Oil on Canvas

The procession in this frieze is seen with two forms seated on elephants occupying the central scape of the painting. It seems to be a rendition of the Emperor and the Queen amidst the palaces. The grandeur of this frieze is enhanced with embellished elephants, horses, camels and bulls. The king and the queen are seen seated in the palki, resting atop the elephant.

Following the elephant, two fi gures are seen holding a gold embellished vessel. Similar vessels are also seen placed on the bullock cart, appropriately decorated with royal umbrellas. The architectural elements forming the background are painted in conformity with the Indo- Persian style of this composition. The rich motifs on the draperies of the animals represented in the foreground are repeated on the architectural palaces. The use of colours on the architectural elements and the landscape provides synthesis with the richness portrayed in the foreground. Numerous verses in the calligraphic style are also painted on top of the composition.

The refinement of the lines and colour formulation is a testimony to the skill of the artists. Delicate facial features are excellently incorporated in the painting along with the detailed representation of decorative motifs on other elements of this complex composition.

Portfolio Name: Paintings in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan
Source: Lalit Kala Akademi