According to King George V's Diary entry for Saturday 27 April, 1911, the chestnut horse Delhi had been brought back from India, presumably after the King and Queen's visit there earlier that year, to attend the Delhi Durbar, and had previously been called Smoke. The Indian dome that appears in the painting to the left may allude to his origins. On the occasion of the Trooping of the Colour, that took place on Friday 14 June at Horse Guards Parade, the King recalled… 'I rode "Delhi' who went beautifully, he is perfection.'

George Rankin is recorded as an animal and equestrian painter; he also painted birds and wildfowl in watercolour.

 
There is a small painting of Delhi, by Alfred Munnings in Queen Mary's Dolls' House (RCIN 408547).