Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 1)
Oil Painting
1856 (made)
1856 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a copy of a painting in cave 1 at Ajanta. These cave paintings are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480 and depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the Jatakas).
This scene depicts a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being on the path to becoming a Buddha. Here he is shown holding a white lily and in a mountain landscape. The surrounding birds, monkeys, happy couples and celestial beings playing musical instruments all contribute to the sense of joy.
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. Most of the 30 or so paintings he completed were displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, south London. Unfortunately they were destroyed in a fire there in 1866. This painting is one of only four surviving examples in the V&A.
This scene depicts a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being on the path to becoming a Buddha. Here he is shown holding a white lily and in a mountain landscape. The surrounding birds, monkeys, happy couples and celestial beings playing musical instruments all contribute to the sense of joy.
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. Most of the 30 or so paintings he completed were displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, south London. Unfortunately they were destroyed in a fire there in 1866. This painting is one of only four surviving examples in the V&A.
Object details
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| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta by Robert Gill, oil on canvas, 1856, India. |
| Physical description | The central figure in this painting is a Bodhisattva holding a blue lily. He has a beautifully jewelled high crown. To his left is a female figure of darker skin, also wearing a jewelled crown and holding a lily, who may be his consort. To his right is a man holding a jewelled sceptre or rod. These figures are surrounded by a rocky mountain setting with birds, monkeys, happy couples and celestial beings playing musical instruments all conveying a joyful scene. The scene preceding this one is in painting IS.54-1885 (but they are not linked by narrative). |
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| Gallery label | The central figure is a Bodhisattva holding a white lily, suggesting identification with the bodhisattva Padmapani. He is a gracious figure, wearing a colourful waist-skirt and crowned with a majestic jewelled high crown. To his left is a female figure of darker complexion, also wearing a jewelled crown and holding a lily. To his right is a man wearing a diadem and holding a jewelled sceptre or rod. These figures are surrounded by a rocky mountain setting with birds, monkeys, happy couples and celestial beings playing musical instruments (kinara), all conveying a joyful scene. There are many interpretations of the scene. Recent research by Monika Zin has suggested an identification not with Padmapani but with a monarch of the mountainous landscapes: 'They have the iconography of the Bodhisattvas but are not meant to be worshipped, they lead the path to the Buddha shrine. This figure holds a water-lily in his hand and not the padma or lotus of the Padmapani'.
The cave paintings of the rock-cut Buddhist caves at Ajanta, near Aurangabad, 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. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Of the 30 or so paintings he completed most were displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham in 1866, but were largely destroyed in a fire at the pavilion. This painting is one of only four that survived.
DP |
| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1844-1863 and deposited in the India Museum, London. Historical significance: There are many interpretations of the scene. Burgess has described this figure as Indra and his concert Sachi Old label on B&W photos describes it as Dhyani Bodhisattva Manjusri and his consort saraswati Monika Zin says that this is a King of the mountainous landscapes. 'They have the iconography of the Bodhisattvas but are not meant to be worshipped , they lead the path to the Buddha shrine. This figure holds a water-lily in his hand and not the padma or lotus of the Padmapani'. |
| 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. Of the 30 or so paintings he completed most were displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham. Unfortunately those that were displayed were destroyed in a fire there in 1866. This painting is one of only 4 surviving examples in the museum collection. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This is a copy of a painting in cave 1 at Ajanta. These cave paintings are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480 and depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the Jatakas). This scene depicts a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being on the path to becoming a Buddha. Here he is shown holding a white lily and in a mountain landscape. The surrounding birds, monkeys, happy couples and celestial beings playing musical instruments all contribute to the sense of joy. 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. Most of the 30 or so paintings he completed were displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, south London. Unfortunately they were destroyed in a fire there in 1866. This painting is one of only four surviving examples in the V&A. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.52-1885 |
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| Record created | August 18, 2005 |
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