The poet Sundar Das before Emperor Shah Jahan, folio from a Sundar Shringar

Guler school A purple stamped cartouche (the Mandi inventory stamp) with handwritten number 268. Verso: Four lines of devanagari script: a verse of Sundar Shah Jahan gave countless wealth to skilled men. Among them he honored the fine poet Sundar with much respect. He gave gemstones, ornaments, a land settlement,1 horses, elephants, a set of clothing. First he gave the title “King of poets,” then “Emperor of Poets.” The king of poets is a Brahman and a resident of Gwalior city. The emperor looks upon him with favor and is kindly. In another hand in devanagari script: Sri Badshah [the esteemed emperor] ordered [Sundar] to make [compose] the Sundar Shringar. On getting the emperor’s order, [the poet] obtained the blessings of Sri Vishnu and Saraswati and returned to his home. To 1940s Raja of Mandi [1] 1987 Sale, London, Sotheby’s, Fine Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures, December 14, 1987, lot 87: “A Hill ruler, probably Raja Sidh Sen of Mandi, paying respects to a Mughal emperor who kneels on a canopied throne” [2] From 1987 to 2017 Ralph Benkaim (1914-2001) and Catherine Glyn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, “Fine Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures,” Sotheby’s, London, December 14, 1987, lot no. 87, “A Hill ruler, probably Raja Sidh Sen of Mandi, paying respects to a Mughal emperor who kneels on a canopied throne” [3] From 2017 Freer Gallery of Art, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim [4] Notes: [1] The painting is believed to have been part of a large cache of Mandi paintings that were dispersed from the Mandi storerooms in the 1940s. The father of Mr. Bharany, who was based in Amritsar, was one of two dealers who handled their dispersal. About half the paintings went to Lahore; Mr. Mehra (a dealer in Delhi) and Coswajee Jahangir (a collector in Mumbai) were among those who acquired them in India, according to information from Catherine Glynn Benkaim, June 14, 2016. [2] See object file. [3] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office. [4] See note 3. Freer Gallery of Art Collection Raja of Mandi Ralph (1914-2001) and Catherine Benkaim Catherine Glynn Benkaim