Who painted Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves?

Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves was painted by John Griffiths in 1878.

Where can I see Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves?

Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves?

Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves

John Griffiths , 1878

Copy of painting inside the Ajanta caves is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist John Griffiths. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting is a 19th-century copy of a ancient mural from Ajanta Caves, India, replicating a 1st century BC to AD 480 Buddha scene in bright colors.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a procession of Buddhas, including the six past Buddhas, Sakyamuni (the historical Buddha), and the future Buddha Maitreya, identifiable by the trees under which they sit.

Technique & Style

Executed by John Griffiths and Indian students, the oil painting mimics the worn edges of the original cave mural, with visible brushstrokes; white patches indicate areas requiring conservation.

History & Provenance

Originally copied by Major Robert Gill (destroyed in 1866), this version was created between 1872-1885 by Griffiths and team as part of a 300-painting project to document Ajanta's fading art.

Context

The original mural is located above the entrance of Ajanta's Cave 17, part of a site discovered in 1819 with paintings dating back over 2,000 years, which were rapidly deteriorating by the time of copying.

Legacy

This painting serves as a preservation of the fragile ancient Ajanta cave art, contributing to the historical record of India's oldest surviving paintings.