Correct Option
The correct option is The animated movement in the figures is reduced.
Explanation
The art of the Andhra region, often referred to as the Vengi School, flourished primarily under the Satavahanas and their successors, the Ikshvakus. This tradition encompasses the famous sites of Amaravati, Nagarjunkonda, and Goli. While they share a common aesthetic idiom involving narrative reliefs on limestone, distinct stylistic evolutions occurred between the earlier (Amaravati) and later (Nagarjunkonda/Goli) phases.
Detailed Analysis
- Comparison The sculptures of the mature Amaravati phase are characterized by intense dynamism, crowded compositions, and a high degree of animated movement. In contrast, the sculptures at Nagarjunkonda and Goli (which flourished under the Ikshvakus in the 3rd-4th centuries CE) show a stylistic shift. While the figures become taller and more slender, the animated movement is reduced. The frenetic energy of Amaravati gives way to a more static and spaced-out composition.
- Material Continuity: Both phases consistently used the distinctive white limestone (often referred to as Palnadu marble) available in the region. There was no shift to granite during this specific evolutionary phase.
- Form Continuity: Both phases relied heavily on relief sculpture to depict Jataka tales and Buddhist narratives. The tradition of relief carving was not abandoned; rather, it remained the primary medium of expression.
Key Takeaway: The transition from the Amaravati phase to the Nagarjunkonda and Goli phase in Andhra art is marked by the elongation of figures and a distinct reduction in animated movement compared to the dynamic exuberance of the earlier period.