Who painted Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)?

Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2) was painted by John Griffiths in 1882.

Where can I see Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)?

Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)?

Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2)

John Griffiths , 1882

Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta (cave 2) is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist John Griffiths. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This oil painting is a 19th-century copy of a 2,000-year-old fresco from Cave 2 at Ajanta, India.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting is a 19th-century copy of a 2,000-year-old fresco from Cave 2 at Ajanta, India. It depicts individuals offering gifts to stone statues of yakshas (nature spirits). The copy retains the flat, stiff figurative style characteristic of the ancient originals.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows devotees bringing offerings to a yaksha couple, reflecting the religious and cultural practices of ancient India. The original fresco was part of a narrative cycle illustrating Jataka stories from the Buddha's life, emphasizing the blend of religious and daily life themes.

Technique & Style

The copy, executed in oil, mimics the flat, two-dimensional quality and stiff postures of the original cave fresco, which utilized natural pigments. The style contrasts with later Indian art developments, preserving an ancient aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created by John Griffiths and Indian students (1872-1885) as part of a 300-piece project to document Ajanta's paintings after earlier copies by Major Robert Gill were lost in an 1866 fire. The originals date from the 1st century BC to AD 480.

Context

Ajanta's caves, discovered in 1819, contain the oldest surviving Indian paintings. The project to copy them, including this work, was a response to the discovery and the subsequent loss of Gill's copies, highlighting the challenges in preserving ancient Indian art.

Legacy

This copy, along with the others from Griffiths' project, serves as a vital record of Ajanta's fragile and ancient wall paintings, facilitating study and appreciation of India's early Buddhist art heritage.