Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (Cave 1)
Oil Painting
1877-1878 (made)
1877-1878 (made)
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This is a copy of a painting 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).
This painting shows a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. He is surrounded by a rocky, green landscape. There are many such images of Bodhisattvas at Ajanta and they are usually found by the entrances to the shrines of the Buddha.
The 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.
This painting shows a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. He is surrounded by a rocky, green landscape. There are many such images of Bodhisattvas at Ajanta and they are usually found by the entrances to the shrines of the Buddha.
The 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 | The Bodhisattva in this painting has a high jewelled crown and wears jewels across his neck and arms and has a jewelled waistband. On the left hand side is woman, thought to be his consort with a tray of flowers. Above the Bodhisattva and spread across the top of the painting are three couples who are separated from each other by rocks depicted in the Ajanta style. There are also birds at the top and on the left hand side of the painting. |
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| Object history | Historical significance: Monika Zin's interpretation: This Bodhisatva, surrounded by a rocky landscape is shown as a king of genies. He cannot be identified as a specific Bodhisatva. The flower garland around his neck makes him a maladhara (garland bearer). According to Buddhist literature these figures are found at the entrance to the Buddha shrine. Burgess identifies the figure as Indra. |
| Historical context | The cave paintings of Ajanta are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict scenes from the lives of the Buddha 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 painting 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). This painting shows a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. He is surrounded by a rocky, green landscape. There are many such images of Bodhisattvas at Ajanta and they are usually found by the entrances to the shrines of the Buddha. The 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.14-1885 |
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| Record created | August 11, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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