Buddhist vihara cave, Ajanta
1862
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
About the artist
Artist
William Simpson
William Simpson (1823–1899) was an artist, born in Glasgow.
See the richer artist page1862
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Buddhist vihara cave, Ajanta is a 1862 paint by William Simpson, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows the inside of a Buddhist cave at Ajanta. It’s a quiet scene with pillars and shadowed walls. Simpson went to India in 1859 to draw places tied to the 1857–58 uprising. He later turned these sketches into finished works back in London. He used pencil first, then added color washes to finish the paintings. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The painting depicts Major Robert Gill seated with his easel before a cave entrance at Ajanta, engaged in copying the interior wall paintings. It was created by William Simpson during his time in India, where he documented sites associated with the 1857–58 uprising. Simpson’s work often served as preparatory studies for later watercolours, though the intended publication never materialized. The scene reflects the historical efforts to record the Buddhist vihara caves before damage and loss occurred.
Read the full account in the museum source.
William Simpson (1823–1899) was an artist, born in Glasgow.
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