{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O115193"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115193/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY0575/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY0575/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY0575","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AY0566","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AY0570","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KK8224","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O115193/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O115193","accessionNumber":"IS.14-1885","objectType":"Oil painting","titles":[{"title":"Copy of painting inside the caves of Ajanta (Cave 1)","type":"series title"},{"title":"Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a copy of a painting in cave 1 at Ajanta. These cave paintings date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480 and are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict stories from the lives of the Buddha (the Jatakas). \r\n\r\nThis painting shows a Bodhisattva, a highly spiritual being who is on the path to becoming a Buddha. He is surrounded by a rocky, green landscape. There are many such images of Bodhisattvas at Ajanta and they are usually found by the entrances to the shrines of the Buddha.\r\n\r\nThe cave complex was discovered in 1819 and attempts were made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872 to 1885 John Griffiths from the Bombay School of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter at the caves. This is one of the approximately 300 paintings they produced.","physicalDescription":"The Bodhisattva in this painting  has a high jewelled crown and wears jewels across his neck and arms and has a jewelled waistband. On the left hand side is woman, thought to be his consort with a tray of flowers.\r\n\r\nAbove the Bodhisattva and spread across the top of the painting are three couples who are separated from each other by rocks depicted in the Ajanta style. There are also birds at the top and on the left hand side of the painting.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Griffiths, John","id":"A4223"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Bombay School of Art","id":"A2830"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oil colour","id":"AAT15050"},{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"oil painting","id":"AAT178684"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oil on canvas","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AY0575","2006AY0566","2006AY0570","2017KK8224"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"B","id":"THES304927"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"oil painting","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ajanta","id":"x39072"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1877-1878","earliest":"1877-01-01","latest":"1878-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2780","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"940","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"45","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"2770","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"970","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"45","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"with frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"940","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"45","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: Monika Zin's interpretation:  This Bodhisatva, surrounded by a rocky landscape is shown as a king of genies. He cannot be identified  as a specific Bodhisatva. The flower garland around his neck makes him a maladhara (garland bearer). According to Buddhist literature  these figures are found at the entrance to the Buddha shrine.\r\n\r\nBurgess identifies the figure as Indra.","historicalContext":"The cave paintings of Ajanta are the oldest surviving examples of painting in India. They depict scenes from the lives of the Buddha and date from the 1st century BC to about AD 480. The cave complex was discovered in 1819 and since then attempts have been made to document the paintings inside them. In 1844 Major Robert Gill was commissioned to make copies. Unfortunately most of the paintings he completed were destroyed in a fire in 1866. To make up for this loss, from 1872, John Griffiths from the Bombay school of Art and seven Indian students spent every winter for the following 13 years at the caves producing approximately 300 paintings, of which this is one.","briefDescription":"Copy of painting in the caves of Ajanta by John Griffiths and students of the Bombay School of Art.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Burgess, J, Notes on the Bauddha Rock-Temples of Ajanta, Bombay, 1879\r\n\r\nGuy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London V & A Publication, 2007,  p.59. pl.61.\r\nISBN 971851775095"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Zin, M, Guide to the Ajanta Paintings, Vol.2, New Delhi, 2003."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Griffiths, J, The paintings in the Buddhist cave temples of Ajanta, India, 1896"}],"production":"Painted by John Griffiths and students from the Bombay School of Art","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"India","id":"x29790"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.14-1885"],"accessionNumberNum":"14","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1885,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-04","recordCreationDate":"2005-08-11","availableToBook":true}}