The correct option is Vijayanagara
Explanation
The Nayaka school of painting flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries in South India, primarily under the patronage of the Nayaka rulers of Madurai, Thanjavur, and Gingee. It represents the final phase of the classical South Indian mural tradition.
Historical and Stylistic Analysis:
- Vijayanagara Influence: The Nayaka paintings are historically and stylistically considered a continuation of the Vijayanagara tradition. Following the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 (Battle of Talikota), artists migrated to the courts of the Nayakas, who were originally provincial governors of the empire. Consequently, the art forms retained the idiom, costumes, and iconographic details typical of the Vijayanagara style, although often appearing more rigid and formalized.
- Chola and Pallava: The Pallava (7th-9th century) and Chola (9th-13th century) traditions preceded the Vijayanagara period by several centuries. While they laid the foundation for Dravidian art, the immediate stylistic predecessor to the Nayaka school is the Vijayanagara school.
- Pala: The Pala school of painting (8th-12th century) developed in Eastern India (Bengal and Bihar) and is distinct in both geography and style (primarily manuscript illustrations), having no direct lineage connection to the Nayaka murals of the South.
Key Takeaway:
The Nayaka paintings, found in temples such as the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, are a direct stylistic extension of the Vijayanagara school of art.