Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)
Oil Painting
1874-1875 (made)
1874-1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
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This is a copy of a painting on the veranda of cave 2 at Ajanta. These 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 image represents Vidyadhara, the charm- or wisdom-bearer male and female couple who live in the clouds above the rocky landscape. He holds a sword which is pointing upwards and a shield in his left hand.
The Ajanta 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 replace them, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves producing approximately 300 paintings. This is one of them.
The Ajanta 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 replace them, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves producing approximately 300 paintings. This is one of them.
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 from the Bombay School of Art |
| Physical description | There are not many details remaining on this painting, and the bottom left hand corner has been damaged by fire. In the top left of the painting is a couple surrounded by clouds with a green rocky landscape to the right. The male figure holds a shield in his right hand. The female figure is touching her beautifully dressed hair with her left hand. They are both adorned with jewels. |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Cave 2 B (on front of canvas in bottom right hand side.) |
| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1872-1885 and deposited in the India Museum, London Historical significance: The paintings inside the caves of Ajanta tell stories from the lives of the Buddha. This painting is from the veranda of cave 2. According to Zin's book this image represents Vidyadhara, the charm-bearer couple who live in the clouds above the ricky landscape. He can be identified because of the weapons he holds which include the sword pointing upwards and the the shield in this left hand. |
| 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 on the veranda of cave 2 at Ajanta. These 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 image represents Vidyadhara, the charm- or wisdom-bearer male and female couple who live in the clouds above the rocky landscape. He holds a sword which is pointing upwards and a shield in his left hand. The Ajanta 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 replace them, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves producing approximately 300 paintings. This is one of them. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.7-1885 |
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| Record created | July 13, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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