Hidden within the horseshoe-shaped cliffs of Maharashtra, the caves of Ajanta preserve one of the world's great artistic and spiritual legacies. Their extraordinary frescoes, depicting the Jataka tales, the life of the Buddha, celestial beings and the rhythms of ancient Indian life, represent a high point in the history of painting.
First published between 1930 and 1955 under the special authority of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Ghulam Yazdani's monumental Ajanta remains a landmark in the documentation of this incomparable heritage. Its colour and monochrome photographic plates, accompanied by scholarly commentary, record the frescoes as they appeared in the early twentieth century.
A distinguished archaeologist, epigraphist and founding Director of Hyderabad State's Archaeological Department, Yazdani brought exceptional scholarly rigour to this ambitious undertaking. The photographic record preserves details of the frescoes that have since endured the effects of time, making the work an invaluable resource for the study of Ajanta's art and conservation.
This new edition brings Yazdani's classic work back to circulation and within reach of scholars, students, collectors and admirers of Indian art. More than a record of ancient masterpieces, it is a lasting visual archive of Ajanta and a tribute to the enduring genius of the artists who created it.
The volume also includes a detailed biographical essay on Ghulam Yazdani, tracing his life, career and enduring contributions to Indian archaeology and art history.
