GILL, Robert. Hackney, London 26.9.1804 — on route from Ajanta to Bhusawal 10.4.1879. British Colonial Officer (Major), Artist and Antiquarian in India. Son of a stockbroker, John Gill and his wife Ann. Entered the Indian Army in 1824, served in Madras, retired 1852. Appointed by his superiors to this work c. 1844-46 he made the first good copies of Ajanta paintings. Thirty full-size copies were sent to England in 1855. Of these 25 were exhibited, and perished in fire in the Crystal Palace near London in 1866, and only five copies survived at India Office (in South Kensington Museum, now Victoria and Albert Museum). Other drawings like ground plans of the caves and architectural details are preserved. He was also an expert photographer, and worked in Ajanta until his death. “He died while being conveyed, very ill, from Ajanta to Bhosawal.” Keen hunter and famous tiger-killer. Also a skilled photographer. Married 1841 Frances Flowerdew Rickerby, also had two Indian mistresses and children with all three.

Gill’s remaining Ajanta copies and photos are now valuable, because the originals have considerably deteriorated in time. New copies were made by —> J. Griffiths in 1872-85. 

Publications: With J. Fergusson: The Rock-Cut Temples of India. 12 p. 74 photos. L. 1864 (text by J.F., photos by R.G.).

– One Hundred Stereoscopic Illustrations of Architecture and Natural History in Western India. L. 1864.

– “Notes on Hemadpauti Temples … of West Berar”, ProcASB 1873, 66-72.

– “Old Gill’s notes and illustrations of the Buddhist caves of Ajanta”, Bombay 1876, 7 p. (JBRAS?).

Sources: Burn & Chatterjee 49; Buckland, Dictionary; worldcat.org; family details in ancestors.familysearch.org; Wikipedia with photo.