Author Description

The archaeological site of Ajanta in the Indian state of Maharashtra is made up of five temples and twenty-four Buddhist monasteries, hewn in the rock wall of the Waghora river valley. Their construction dates back to about 200 BC and the shrines were a focus of spirituality for centuries. Then, around 650 AD they were abandoned and gradually forgotten, until they were rediscovered by a British tiger-hunting expedition in 1819. Today, the Ajanta complex is a UNESCO world heritage site and, with its treasure of paintings and sculptures, is considered an exceptional repertory of the origins and evolution of classical Indian art. In choosing the ideal interlocutor for a project of international cooperation, the Italian tradition of restoring works of art made the Rome-based Higher Institute for Conservation and Restoration (ISCR) the ideal choice. The aim of the project is to study and safeguard the paintings in cave number 17, assessing the scientific evidence by examining the historical data and the cultural elements. The interdisciplinary approach which forms the basis of the ISCR's method of research ensures a useful dialogue between the various professional skills involved. The results of the surveys have been gathered together in these two volumes accompanied by a handsome collection of photographs, to present a complete and updated picture of environmental conditions, costitutive materials and state of conservation of the wall paintings, and to show the way ahead for the future restoration of the artworks at Ajanta.