Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (cave 17)
1878
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1878
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This oil painting is an 1872-1885 copy of a cave painting from Ajanta’s cave 17. It’s one of about 300 works made to preserve the originals, which date from the 1st century BC to AD 480. Major Robert Gill’s earlier copies were lost in a fire. To fill the gap, John Griffiths and seven Indian students spent winters at the caves for over a decade. The cave complex was found in 1819 after being hidden for centuries. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
