Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c11.12

v3.c11.12

As this Part deals with some caves in which the original frescoes have deteriorated badly and become very dim, but artistic detail can still be copied and utilized for study, I have arranged for the inclusion of the ‘outlines’ of these subjects, which number as many as twenty-three and are shown in nine plates. Further, to avoid misunderstanding regarding the faithfulness of the ‘outlines’ I have also included the photographs of all these dim subjects, having taken them direct from the rock-walls. By this plan, although the number of plates has increased, yet it has served a double purpose: first the photographic survey of the frescoes of Ajanta has been made as complete as possible, and secondly the student of art will now be able to compare the ‘outlines’ with the photographs in regard to the salient features of the drawings. Apart from the reproductions of the inscriptions which are included in the Text volume and whose number is considerable, the Plates portfolio of this Part comprises five key-plans, fifty-two monochrome and seventeen colour-plates, the total number thus exceeding that of the plates contained in Parts I and II. The monochrome plates and the Text volume have been printed by the Oxford University Press, while the making of the blocks of the colour-plates and their printing have been done by Messrs. Henry Stone & Son of Banbury and London, and I have great pleasure in stating that the Directors and the staff of both these presses have not only observed the utmost care in executing the difficult task entrusted to them but have shown a genuine personal interest in making the efforts of the Archaeological Department of Hyderabad successful as regards the publication of this book.