Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 6)
Oil Painting
1872-1885 (made)
1872-1885 (made)
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This is a copy of a painting in cave 6 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 particular painting is badly damaged. It is divided into sections, each of which contains different figures. In the bottom section is a male figure with a child at his feet. Next to them is a graceful female figure holding a finger to her chin.
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.
This particular painting is badly damaged. It is divided into sections, each of which contains different figures. In the bottom section is a male figure with a child at his feet. Next to them is a graceful female figure holding a finger to her chin.
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 is a badly damaged painting. It is divided into sections with each section filled with different figures, including in the bottom a male figure with a child at his feet and next to them a graceful female figure holding a finger to her chin. Along the left hand side of the painting is a line of scrolling pattern. |
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| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1872-1885 and deposited in the India Museum, London. |
| 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 painting in cave 6 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 particular painting is badly damaged. It is divided into sections, each of which contains different figures. In the bottom section is a male figure with a child at his feet. Next to them is a graceful female figure holding a finger to her chin. 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.104-1885 |
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| Record created | July 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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