GRIFFITHS, John. Llanfair Caereinion, Montgomeryshire, Powys 29.11.1837 — Norton, Sherborne 1.12.1918. British (Welsh) Artist in India. Son of Evan Griffiths and Mary Evans, lost early his father and grew up with his uncle in Llanfair. Educated at Royal College of Arts, then served in South Kensington Museum (future Victoria and Albert Museum). From 1865 Professor at Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art in Bombay, later its Principal. Friend of —> J. L. Kipling (and godfather of Rudyard). In India he supervised the decoration of many new public buildings. In 1872-85 he was employed by the government to copy the Ajanta paintings to make up those by —> R. Gill, which were perished in fire. These copies, deposited in South Kensington Museum, too, perished later, but fortunately they had been published. Later on, he was Principal of Mayo School of Art and Museum Curator in Lahore. He retired in 1895 and settled down in Wales, but moved later to Norton. Married Gladys Linette Rebecca Beddome Davis, two daughters.
Sources: *Br. Llewellyn, Burlington Magazine 122, No. 926, 1980, 368-371; Dictionary of Welsh Biography in Br. Biogtr. Arch. 2nd Series; Wikipedia with portrait.
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