The correct option is Covers both shoulders.
Explanation
The Gupta period marked the "Golden Age" of Indian art, witnessing the maturation of the Mathura and Sarnath schools of sculpture. While the Mathura school continued earlier traditions, the Sarnath school developed a distinct, refined aesthetic characterized by spiritual serenity and specific iconographic details regarding drapery.
Detailed Analysis:
- Sarnath Style Characteristics: In the Sarnath style of the Gupta period, the Buddha is typically depicted with the sanghati (robe) covering both shoulders. A defining feature of this style is the treatment of the drapery, which appears transparent and clings closely to the body (often described as "wet drapery"), revealing the contours of the torso without the distraction of heavy folds.
- Contrast with Mathura Style: In contrast, the Mathura school (especially in the earlier Kushana period and continuing into the Gupta period) often depicted the Buddha with the robe covering only the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. The Mathura style also typically featured prominent, schematic folds in the drapery, unlike the smooth, foldless finish of Sarnath.
- Options Analysis:
- Covers both shoulders is correct as covering both shoulders is a hallmark of the Sarnath idiom.
- Covers only the left shoulder describes the typical Mathura style.
- Is absent, showing a nude torso is incorrect; the Buddha is never depicted nude in this tradition (unlike Jaina Tirthankaras).
- Is draped around the waist only is incorrect as the sanghati is a full upper garment, not merely a waist cloth.
Key Takeaway: The Sarnath school of Gupta art is distinguished by the transparent, foldless drapery that covers both shoulders, emphasizing the spiritual luminosity of the Buddha's body.