Copy of painting from the caves of Ajanta (cave 1)
Oil Painting
1872-1873 (made)
1872-1873 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a copy of one of the many painted panels that form the ceiling in cave 1 at Ajanta. These 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 ceilings of the caves were intended to replicate the effect of a painted ceiling with wooden beams. This painting is divided into sections, each of which has a different design.
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 ceilings of the caves were intended to replicate the effect of a painted ceiling with wooden beams. This painting is divided into sections, each of which has a different design.
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
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| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta by John Griffiths and students of the Bombay School of Art. |
| Physical description | This painting depicts a ceiling panel from cave1. The ceilings of the caves were meant to replicate the effect of a wooden, beamed and painted ceiling. This painting is divided into sections. Each of the sections has a different design, some have a bunch of flowers, some have a bunch of fruit, one has a goose and one has two elf-type figures. The 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 – this is unfinished. |
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| 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 one of the many painted panels that form the ceiling in cave 1 at Ajanta. These 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 ceilings of the caves were intended to replicate the effect of a painted ceiling with wooden beams. This painting is divided into sections, each of which has a different design. 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. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.120-1885 |
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| Record created | July 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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