Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 16)

The copy employs oil on canvas, allowing the artist to render the pearls with a thick, glossy finish that catches light, while the falling coins are rendered in finer detail. This medium contrasts with the original fresco technique, yet strives to convey the mural’s colour palette and compositional balance.

After the caves were rediscovered in 1819, Major Robert Gill made copies in 1844, many of which were lost in an 1866 fire.

The original Ajanta paintings were created between the 1st century BC and AD 480, illustrating Jataka tales. After the caves were rediscovered in 1819, Major Robert Gill made copies in 1844, many of which were lost in an 1866 fire. From 1872 to 1885, John Griffiths of the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian apprentices produced roughly three hundred reproductions; this canvas is one of those works.

Ajanta’s murals represent the oldest surviving Indian paintings, reflecting a synthesis of Buddhist storytelling and indigenous artistic conventions. The depiction of Kubera links Hindu deity worship with the Buddhist moral framework presented throughout the cave complex.

Copies such as this have preserved visual information about fragile sections of the Ajanta frescoes, informing modern conservation efforts. The white patches on the canvas signal ongoing preservation concerns, echoing the broader challenges of safeguarding the original cave paintings.