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 one of many painted panels that form the ceiling in cave 2 at Ajanta. The white patches cover fragile areas that require conservation work. The Ajanta cave paintings are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India and date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480.
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.
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
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 2) (series title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Copy of Fresco 29 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 | Strip of floral decoration consisting of long curling stalks with several different types of flowers and some fruit. This painting is from the ceiling to the anitchamber to the shrine in cave two. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Ajanta Cave 29' (Painted on back: means fresco 29 in cave 2 (see registers)) |
| Object history | Historical significance: This painting is from the ceiling to the anitchamber to the shrine in cave two. |
| 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 of the Bombay School of Art |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This is a copy of one of many painted panels that form the ceiling in cave 2 at Ajanta. The white patches cover fragile areas that require conservation work. The Ajanta cave paintings are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India and date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480. 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.93-1885 |
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| Record created | August 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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