Shamsher Sen of Mandi with a youth1760–70 · Study 2012.302

Context from the museum

In 1727, Shamsher Sen inherited the Pahari kingdom of Mandi. The artist has rendered him with an intense gaze directed at a man, possibly his lover, who greets him with respect. The ashes on his forehead and neck mark Shamsher Sen as a follower of the Hindu god Shiva. In his turban, alongside an array of flowers, he wears a whistle, announcing his participation in a religious order devoted to Shiva. The inscription in the lower border reads shri damyan , meaning “Honorable Minister,” since he ruled as a minister of the Hindu god Krishna. Pahari rulers often pledged loyalty to multiple divinities.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Shamsher Sen wears a small silver whistle in his turban.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected image measurement for Shamsher Sen of Mandi with a youth is 13.9 cm wide and 16.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 5.5 × 6.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.84:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.02 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 4.6% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 143.1 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Shamsher Sen of Mandi with a youth in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 13.9 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?