Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)
Oil Painting
1872-1885 (made)
1872-1885 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a copy of a painted ceiling panel in cave 2 at Ajanta. It shows how the ceilings of the caves were meant to replicate the effect of a wooden, beamed painted roof. The cave paintings date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480 and are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the Jatakas).
The Ajanta cave complex was discovered in 1819 and attempts were made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves. This is one of the approximately 300 paintings they produced.
The Ajanta cave complex was discovered in 1819 and attempts were made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves. This is one of the approximately 300 paintings they produced.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Copy of Fresco 26 in Cave 2 of the caves of Ajanta by John Griffiths and students from the Bombay School of Art, oil on canvas, 1872-1885, India. |
| Physical description | This painting depicts a ceiling panel from cave 2. The ceilings of the caves were meant to replicate the effect of a wooden, beamed and painted ceiling. The panel is divided in to six square sections, each of the sections has a different creature inside it. The creatures are made up of human bodies, with fish-like tails, some have elf-like faces with pointed ears, others have the head of a boar. Their tails have curling and scrolling forms coming out of them. The six sections are separated by thick lines of geometric designs which represent the beams of a wooden roof. The central beam has a fret motif which is very similar to European/ Greek motifs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Ajanta
Cave II
26 (On back of canvas) |
| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1872-1885 and deposited in the India Museum, London. Historical significance: This painting is from cave 2. |
| Historical context | The cave paintings of Ajanta are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the jatakas) and date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480. The cave complex was discovered in 1819 and since then attempts have been made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872, John Griffiths from the Bombay school of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter for the following 13 years at the caves producing approximately 300 paintings, of which this is one. |
| Production | Painted by John Griffiths and students from the Bombay School of Art |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This is a copy of a painted ceiling panel in cave 2 at Ajanta. It shows how the ceilings of the caves were meant to replicate the effect of a wooden, beamed painted roof. The cave paintings date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480 and are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the Jatakas). The Ajanta cave complex was discovered in 1819 and attempts were made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves. This is one of the approximately 300 paintings they produced. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.98-1885 |
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| Record created | July 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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