Who painted Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9)?

Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9) was painted by John Griffiths in 1882.

Where can I see Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9)?

Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9)?

Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9) is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9)

John Griffiths , 1882

Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 9) is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist John Griffiths. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting is a reproduction of a scene from Cave 9 in the Ajanta caves, India, created by John Griffiths in the late 19th century.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a scene from the Mahagovinda Jataka, a narrative of one of the Buddha's past lives, part of a broader collection of Jataka stories illustrated in the Ajanta caves.

Technique & Style

Griffiths carefully replicated the faded colors and figures of the original, using oil painting to capture the detail of the ancient Indian artwork; white patches indicate areas requiring conservation on the original cave painting.

History & Provenance

Commissioned as part of a documentation effort following the loss of earlier copies in a 1866 fire, this painting was created between 1872 and 1885 by Griffiths and Indian students from the Bombay School of Art.

Context

The original Ajanta cave paintings (1st century BC to AD 480) are the oldest surviving Indian paintings, discovered in 1819; this copy contributes to the preservation of their cultural and historical significance.