Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 17)
Oil Painting
1881-1883 (made)
1881-1883 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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 an example.
The white patches on the painting are placed over fragile areas that require conservation work.
The white patches on the painting are placed over fragile areas that require conservation work.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Oil on canvas |
| Brief description | Copy of Fresco 'U' in Cave '17' in the caves of Ajanta by John Griffiths and students from the Bombay School of Art, oil on canvas, 1872-1885, India. |
| Physical description | This painting is very dark which could be a result of fire and water damage. It is not possible to see much of it clearly. In the bottom of the painting there is a outdoor scene in which the only two clearly identifiable things are a hunter raising his bow and a deer. In the top of the painting there is a group of male figures. It is not possible to see what they are doing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | U
Front wall, cave 17
7-10 high 3-5 long (on back of canvas) |
| Credit line | Received from the India Office |
| Object history | Commissioned by the Government of India between 1872-1885 and deposited in the India Museum, London. Historical significance: This painting depicts scenes from the Rksa Jataka. Received from the India Office. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. |
| 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 an example. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | 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 an example. The white patches on the painting are placed over fragile areas that require conservation work. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.95-1887 |
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| Record created | November 25, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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