The correct option is Gupta Style.
Explanation
The Sultanganj Buddha is a monumental copper sculpture discovered in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. It is dated to the Gupta period (approximately 500-700 CE) and stands as a definitive masterpiece of classical Indian metal art, reflecting the aesthetic maturity of the era.
Detailed Analysis
- Gupta Style (Correct): The statue is a classic representation of the Sarnath School of Gupta art. Its defining features include a slender, idealized body, a serene spiritual expression, and a transparent, clinging robe (often described as "wet drapery") that reveals the body's contours without heavy folds. It was cast using the cire perdue (lost-wax) technique, showcasing the advanced metallurgical expertise of the Gupta period.
- Mathura Style (Incorrect): While the Gupta style evolved from the Mathura tradition, the earlier Mathura style (Kushana period) is characterized by a more robust, fleshy physique and prominent drapery folds. The Sultanganj Buddha lacks this heavy physical robustness, favoring the refined elegance of the later Gupta idiom.
- Amaravati Style (Incorrect): This style flourished in the Andhra region (South India) under the Satavahanas and Ikshvakus. It is distinguished by dynamic narrative reliefs, slender figures with distinct facial features, and the use of white marble/limestone, which is unrelated to the copper-bronze tradition of the Gangetic plain.
- Gandhara Style (Incorrect): The Gandhara school is noted for its Greco-Roman influence, characterized by realistic anatomical details, wavy hair, and heavy, thick drapery with deep folds. The smooth, transparent clothing of the Sultanganj Buddha stands in direct contrast to this style.
Key Takeaway: The Sultanganj Buddha is the largest surviving metal statue from the Gupta period, exemplifying the Sarnath style's focus on spiritual transcendence through the use of transparent drapery and serene facial expressions.