Famous Robert Gill Paintings at Ajanta Caves

Famous Robert Gill Paintings at Ajanta Caves | The series of Ajanta Caves Aurangabad Panoramic view | Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Robert Gill

A major who was brilliant at drawing and photography was once sent to Ajanta. His sole purpose was to convert Ajanta Caves murals into Ajanta Caves paintings for the Asiatic Society of Bombay. The man was Robert Gill ( September 26, 1804—April 10, 1879). He was born in London and moved to Madras Native Infantry as a cadet in 1824.

The house of Robert Gill at Ajanta caves

However, upon the requirement of epic Ajanta Murals (Ajanta caves paintings) made of the famous Fresco Techniques. The technique used the mixing of lime plaster to draw paintings on the wall of Ajanta caves.

Rs 200 per year paid to Robert Gill for Ajanta Caves Paintings

Robert was the first painter after rediscovering Ajanta caves in 1819. Gill produced extensive copies of Buddhist Ajanta caves paintings (murals) in the 5th century. The artist paid additional rupees 200 per year for copying all the paintings. Gill produced almost 30 copies on the full-size canvas. However, behind the hard work of Robert, almost credit goes to Paro, a local villager and mistress of Gill.

Interior of Ajanta Cave 26 from the Allardyce Collection | Photograph by Robert Gills

Tragic fire at the Victoria and Albert Museum destroyed Ajanta Caves paintings

There are a total of four paintings left and those called surviving, the oldest example. Robert had created almost 30 paintings, which were destroyed in the fire at the store room of the Victoria and Albert Museum. These paintings depict the oldest civilization of Buddhism in India, raging from the 1st BC century to AD 480. The full canvas painting created by Robert Gills at Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves Paintings as rock-cut sculptures

Ajanta Caves Paintings as rock-cut sculptures

The caves of Ajanta are paintings on the walls and rock-cut sculptures. However, those paintings & sculptures are examples of ancient Indian cultures. The arts trigger the emotions of visitors through the unique poses, forms and different gestures. In the year 1983, the Ajanta Caves registered at the World Heritage Site.

Amazing painting of Padmapani Bodhisattva, sometimes called the Descent of Indra. This has been labelled as being in both Cave 1 and Cave 17 of the Ajanta Caves; each Cave has a different painting of Indra and sorting spears to have been mixed up by different sources. Abhideo21, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Love story of Paro and Robert Gill

Paro was a local girl of the nearing village. She helped Robert about the findings and guiding of caves, collecting genuine colours from the plant and fruits for his projects. Their friendship after a few occasions converted into undying and affectionate love for each other. However, their intimate relationship resulted into a lifetime curse for gill and Paro. The villagers had killed Paro in the absence of the Major gill.
The reason of death of Paro, mistress of Robert Gill

The reason behind the death of Paro was a local powerful man. The man was in connection with the brother of Paro, partying, drinking and paying her brother for getting married to Paro. Therefore, the one fight between the angry man and Gill had occurred already. Robert was off to London carrying his paintings for a few weeks, and upon his return his mistress disappeared. He searched and came to know that Paro was killed by the friend of her brother. However, she was pregnant from Robert, which he did not know.

Today at Ajanta Caves, a painting (right one) copied on canvas by Robert Gills

Left painting (murals) as on today at Ajanta Caves and right one copied on canvas by Robert Gills

Loneliness of Gill after the Death of Paro

Gill decided to live the rest of his life in and around the Ajanta Caves. The major was like someone who waits for Paro day and night, thinking one day she will return to him. He died waiting for Paro at the age of 74 near the caves.