Artwork
Portrait of Ishwari Sen of Mandi
Portrait of Ishwari Sen of Mandi is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This painting is a three-quarter length portrait of Ishwari Sen, Raja of Mandi in the Panjab Hills.
About this work
Overview
This painting is a three-quarter length portrait of Ishwari Sen, Raja of Mandi in the Panjab Hills. The work exemplifies the style of 'Company paintings', a genre produced by Indian artists for European patrons.
Subject & Meaning
Ishwari Sen is depicted seated, holding a huqqa-stem and wearing ornate attire, with a Kashmir shawl draped over his arm. The portrait conveys the dignity and status of its subject, a regional ruler in 19th-century India.
Technique & Style
The painting blends traditional Indian artistic styles with Western conventions, characteristic of 'Company paintings'. This fusion is evident in the representation of the subject and the use of techniques borrowed from European art.
History & Provenance
The painting was likely acquired by Lord Amherst in 1827 during his visit to Delhi. Initially misidentified as a portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a Persian inscription on the back correctly identifies the subject as Ishwari Sen. It was later donated to the museum by Lady Joan Amherst.
Artist & collection
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