Royal elephant - no border

Believed to have been designed by Charles-Jean de la Mornaix between 1840 and 1843, the original “Royal elephant” is still on display in the Louvre in Paris. First exhibited at the Industrial Products Exposition in France in 1844, it depicts a royal elephant in India, adorned in the livery of the royal family. It is making its way through the jungle, surrounded by beautiful and exotic birds, trees, plans and flowers. This piece is done in the Oriental style, which were very popular from the 17th century through the 19th century in Europe. The Jesuits who were returning from the far and Middle East with tales of adventure and strange sights created an Oriental art fervor among the wealthy, who found the cultures and customs to be very unusual, at least when compared to Christian Europe. “Royal elephant” is a fine example of the Oriental influence on European art. The tapestry is lined and has a tunnel for easy hanging.