Correct Option
The correct option is The Nayaka school adopted the style with minor regional modifications.
Explanation
The Nayaka school of art flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries in Tamil Nadu, primarily under the patronage of the Nayaka rulers of Madurai, Thanjavur, and Gingee. Historically, the Nayakas were governors under the Vijayanagara Empire who asserted independence following the empire's decline. Consequently, their artistic traditions served as a direct continuation of the Vijayanagara legacy.
Detailed Analysis
- The Nayaka school adopted the style with minor regional modifications. is Correct: The Nayaka paintings are widely recognized as an extension of the Vijayanagara style. They retained fundamental characteristics such as figures depicted in profile, large eyes, flat backgrounds, and elaborate costumes. While the Nayaka style introduced minor regional variations-often appearing more rigid or stylized-it fundamentally adopted the artistic vocabulary established during the Vijayanagara period.
- The Nayaka school rejected the Vijayanagara style completely. is Incorrect: The Nayaka school did not reject the Vijayanagara style. Instead, it preserved and propagated the tradition, serving as the final phase of the classical South Indian mural tradition.
- The Nayaka school reverted to the Ajanta style. is Incorrect: The Nayaka school did not revert to the Ajanta style. The Ajanta style, known for its classical naturalism and use of shading (chiaroscuro), belongs to the ancient period (Gupta/Vakataka era). By the Nayaka period, South Indian art had evolved into a distinctively flat and linear style.
- The Nayaka school focused only on sculpture, not painting. is Incorrect: The Nayaka period was not limited to sculpture. It produced significant mural paintings, with notable examples found in the Sri Krishna temple at Chengam, the Thiruparankundram temple, and the Thiruvarur temple.
Key Takeaway: The Nayaka painting style is a direct successor to the Vijayanagara style, maintaining its linear techniques and iconographic conventions while adapting them to the regional context of Tamil Nadu.