Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)
Oil Painting
1874-1875 (made)
1874-1875 (made)
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This is a copy of a painting in 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 painting depicts a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. Here he is shown in the centre of a rocky mountain landscape surrounded by genies and ‘yakshas’ (nature-spirits).
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 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 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 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 of the Bombay School of Art. |
| Physical description | This scene is set in a rocky mountainous, green setting. Much of this painting shows the huge losses in the actual cave painting. In the centre is a head and shoulders of a large Bodhisattva. It is mainly his crown and jewels that can me made out. On the right hand side there are four figures, two set in the clouds and two looking out of the rocks. On the left hand side of the painting there are four different sets of couples, the most prominent being the two men on the far left dressed like ascetics. Note: Burgess/Griffiths give a detailed description of this. |
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| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1872-1885 and deposited in the India Museum, London. Historical significance: Acording to Zin's book this painting can be interpreted in the following way: The couple in the far right corner in the clouds are Vidyadhara genies (charm bearers) identifiable by sword the man is carrying. Next to the charm-bearers are an Aboriginal couple identifiable by their simple jewellery and weapons. On the far left hand side are deities from Brahma’s heaven, they wear simple clothes and have their hair bound in a knot. The other couples nearby are yakshas and genies. |
| 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 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 painting depicts a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. Here he is shown in the centre of a rocky mountain landscape surrounded by genies and ‘yakshas’ (nature-spirits). 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 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.21-1885 |
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| Record created | August 11, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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