INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, 18th century - Lot 7

INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, 18th century Portrait of a Raja, probably Sidh Sen Polychrome pigments on paper. Visible wear. Miniature 17.5 x 11.1 cm (view) This is probably the Raja Sidh Sen, who ruled Mandi from 1684 to 1724. A renowned warrior, he was also a fervent devotee of Shiva, and is therefore often depicted with a red mark on his forehead, as in this miniature. Texts describe him as a follower of tantric practices, and sometimes even endowed with supernatural powers. Numerous portraits of him have been recorded, often depicting him standing tall, sometimes as a personification of the god Shiva. On the back of the frame, a collector's handwritten inscription in illegible French mentions Kulu and Nayarayen Sen (sic).