Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Benode Behari Mukherjee was a pioneering figure in modern Indian art and a key student of Nandalal Bose at Shantiniketan. He is renowned for his monumental murals that blend traditional Indian aesthetics with modern sensibilities, particularly his work depicting the lives of saints.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The mural titled The Lives of Medieval Saints is located on the walls of the Hindi Bhavana at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan. It is considered one of the most significant examples of modern Indian mural art.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The mural does not employ the technique of oil painting on canvas. Instead, it was executed using the fresco buono technique (true fresco), which involves painting on wet lime plaster. This technique requires speed and precision as the pigments bind with the plaster as it dries.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Benode Behari Mukherjee suffered from severe visual impairment since childhood; he was myopic in one eye and blind in the other. Despite this congenital condition, he created this massive mural (completed in 1947). He later lost his eyesight completely in 1957 but continued to create art using paper cuts and textures.
Key Takeaway
Benode Behari Mukherjee created the mural The Lives of Medieval Saints at Hindi Bhavana, Shantiniketan, using the fresco buono technique while battling severe congenital visual impairment.