Page 104 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

86 88
RAJA SHAMSHER SEN OF MANDI RAJA SIDH SEN OF MANDI (R. 1684-1727) PERFORMING PUJA
MANDI, NORTHERN INDIA, 1770-80 MANDI, NORTHERN INDIA, 1730-1750
Opaque pigments on paper with black, white and red rules, set within an Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, set between black rules and
orange margin, inscription at the top of the painting in Takri, the reverse plain, red margin, the reverse plain, flyleaf attached
with flyleaf Painting 9¿ x 5æin. (23.3 x 14.5cm.); folio 10w x 7ºin. (27.8 x 18.5cm.)
Painting 10º x 6qin. (26 x 16.4cm.); folio 13q x 9ºin. (34 x 24.3cm.)
£2,000-3,000 US$2,300-3,400
£4,000-6,000 US$4,600-6,900 €2,300-3,400
€4,600-6,800
LITERATURE:
EXHIBITED: J.P. Losty, Indian Paintings from the Ludwig Habighorst Collection, Francesca
Betel, Tabak, Wein, Hasch und Opium in der indischen Malerei, Museum Galloway, London, 2018, no.15
Rietberg,Zürich, 12 January - 2 May 2010 (used as exhibition poster)
Genuss und Rausch - Wein, Tabak und Drogen in indischen Miniaturen, Raja Sidh Sen (r.1684-1727) is usually depicted with a beard, however we can
Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Berlin,21 April - 22 June identify him as the figure in our painting through a similar scene, again with a
2014 (used as exhibition poster)
datura flower in his topknot, illustrated in R. Skelton, Indian Miniatures: from
the 15th to 19th centuries, Venice, 1961, no.55. The Raja was believed to have
LITERATURE:
L. V. Habighorst, P. A. Reichart, V. Sharma, Genuss und Rausch. Betel, Tabak, lived to 100 years old. A great warrior who expanded Mandi at the expense
wein und Rauschdrogen in Indischen Miniaturen, Ragaputra Edition, Koblenz, of Kangra and Kulu, he was credited with supernatural powers and thought
2007, p. 54, plate 27 to have possessed a book of spells (W.G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the
J.P. Losty, Indian Paintings from the Ludwig Habighorst Collection, Francesca Punjab Hills, London, 1973, p.359). Perhaps relating more closely to the
Galloway, London, 2018, no. 16
present lot, Raja Sidh Sen was also recognised to have been deeply religious,
a worshipper of both Shiva and the Devi as indicated by the joint sectarian
INSCRIPTIONS:
In Takri; sri Sidh Sen mark on his forehead.
Despite an inscription giving the name of Raja Sidh Sen, who is depicted 89
in lot 88, this portrait is in fact Raja Shamsher Sen of Mandi (r.1727-81).
THE NAYIKA IS HURT BY HER LOVER
Despite his long rule, Raja Shamsher Sen was noted for 'mental instability,
ATTRIBUTED TO SAJNU, MANDI, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1810
a wilful liking for low companions, crazy habits and even at times for odd
Possibly depicting Raja Isvari Sen, opaque pigments heightened with gold
dressings-up'. For a portrait of him and a short discussion on the Raja,
86 on paper, set between black floral border with red rules and a buff coloured 88
see W.G. Archer, Visions of Courtly India, The Archer Collection of Pahari
margin, the reverse plain, flyleaf
Miniatures, Washington, 1976, cat.59, pp.110-111. Very similar depictions of Painting 8º x 5æin. (21.5 x 14.8cm.); folio 12 x 9¿in. (30.5 x 24cm.)
Raja Shamsher Sen have been sold in these Rooms, 23 September 2005,
£8,000-12,000 US$9,200-14,000
lot 74 and 26 May 2016, lot 40.
€9,200-14,000
EXHIBITED:
87 Betel, Tabak, Wein, Hasch und Opium in der indischen Malerei, Museum
Rietberg,Zürich, 12 January-2 May 2010
KALI THE DESTROYER
MANDI, NORTH INDIA, LATE 18TH CENTURY LITERATURE:
L. V. Habighorst, P. A. Reichart, V. Sharma, Genuss und Rausch. Betel, Tabak,
Opaque pigments on paper set within yellow geometric borders, black rules
Wein und Rauschdrogen in indischen Miniaturen, Ragaputra Edition, Koblenz,
and red margins, the reverse plain
2007, p. 71, plate 45
Painting 8º x 5ºin. (21 x 13.5cm.); folio 10º x 7¿in. (26 x 18cm.)
V. Sharma, Painting in the Kangra Valley, Delhi, 2020, pl.119
£3,000-5,000 US$3,500-5,700
€3,500-5,700 The artist Sajnu is considered by Archer to herald ‘phase two’ of Mandi
painting, bringing with him stylistic conventions from the Kangra valley
PROVENANCE: where it is believed he trained and greatly influencing the direction of later
Royal Arki Collection Mandi painting (W.G. Archer, Indian Painting from the Punjab Hills, London,
1973, p.361). We know that he was active in Mandi by the first decade of the
LITERATURE:
th
J. P. Losty, Indian Paintings from the Ludwig Habighorst Collection, Francesca 19 century from several signed works including a portrait of Raja Ishwari
Galloway, London, 2018, no.17 Sen dated 1808 (B.N. Goswamy and E. Fischer, Pahari Masters: Court
Painters of Northern India, Zurich, 1992, p.311). The Raja seems to have been
Kali, the embodiment of the destructive power of time, stands astride the the greatest patron of Sajnu whose workshop is recognisable for its pastel
body of Shiva, representing the destroyed universe. She stands naked apart palette, sensitive rendering of faces and angular, zig-zagging architectural
from a garland of severed heads and a vanamala of human corpses. Her compositions – all of which we find in the present painting. Although not
nakedness is a sign of her purity and she holds a severed head, symbolic of related to Nainsukh and Manaku, Sajnu relates stylistically to the two
human ego. Behind her we see a stark orange funeral ground populated only brothers to the extent Goswamy and Fischer include him as part of the wider
by flaming pyres, jackals and vultures. “family” (Goswamy and Fischer, op.cit, p.311).
In comparison to other Pahari schools in the eighteenthcentury, Mandi Sajnu and his workshop is responsible for both a Baramasa and Hamir
painting remained fairly static. Painting of the court would also move to Hath series for his great patron Raja Ishwari Sen. A painting from the
a popular level making dating somewhat more difficult. However, one Baramasa was sold at Sotheby’s London, 07 October 2015, lot 291 whilst
development useful in this task is the movement of very high and straight an illustration to the Hamir Hath was sold in Christie’s New York, 22
87 horizon line to a curving one, as found here. September 2021, lot 457. 89
102 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty 103
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.