Mystic and devotees at a campfire, attributable to Payag or a follower, India, Mughal, 17th century

This gathering of mystics around a campfire is very close in style to the work of the renowned seventeenth century Mughal artist Payag. He was the brother of the artist Balchand, and active at the royal Mughal atelier from circa 1591 to circa 1658. Payag’s career began at the end of Akbar’s reign, before working for Prince Salim in Allahabad around 1600 and later for Shah Jahan. In the 1640s and 50s, he became known for his depictions of mystics and nocturnal scenes, often with a group of men seated around a glowing fire or flickering candles. His use of subtle chiaroscuro and smoky atmospheric effects was inspired by European paintings, as was the use of blazing red skies in his compositions. It is likely that Payag was influenced by the works of contemporary European masters such as Durer, whose prints and paintings were studied closely by Mughal artists. Payag’s use of smoky, dark landscapes and his illustration of faces glowing from the light of the campfire can be compared with the work of European artists from the Renaissance period. For further discussion on Payag, see Seyller 2011, pp.321-336; and Okada 1992, pp.207-215.

Comparable compositions by Payag include ‘Ascetics by a fire’ (with a figure of a dog in the foreground) from the St. Petersburg Album dated to circa 1620-25 (illus. Seyller 2011, fig.5, p.328). Other paintings include ‘Night Scene’ with a group of figures dimly lit by the glow of candle, dated to circa 1650-55 in the Indian Museum, Calcutta; and ‘Officers and Philosophers seated around a candle at night’ dated to circa 1655 in the San Diego Museum (illus. Okada 1992, figs 250-1).

Okada notes that Payag’s preference for night scenes and chiaroscuro effects was adopted by other Mughal artists working in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries at the royal Mughal atelier as well as at provincial centres, becoming a feature of late Mughal painting (ibid., p.214).

Another similar painting depicting mystics seated around a campfire, attributable to Payag and dated to circa 1650, sold in these rooms, 9 April 2008, lot 60. For further works attributable to the artist sold in these rooms, see 6 October 2015, lot 28; 5 October 2011, lot 131; and 31 May 2011, lot 5.