Who is a Sculptor ?

Question

Who is a Sculptor ?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
Nagji Patel. Nagji Patel is correctly identified as a prominent Indian Modernist **sculptor** known primarily for his monumental stone carving. Born in Gujarat, he studied sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda, where he eventually shifted his focus from painting to three-dimensional work. His signature style involves carving marble, granite, or sandstone, often creating a unique contrast by leaving parts of the stone surface rough and unpolished while finishing others smoothly. This distinctive technique, inspired by ancient Indian sculptures, along with his celebrated large outdoor public works like *The Banyan Trees*, firmly establishes his reputation as a master sculptor.

The incorrect option is 1: N. S. Bendre.
Narayan Shridhar Bendre (1910–1992) was a highly respected Indian Modernist **painter** and an influential educator. He is best known as a master **landscape artist** who skillfully blended post-impressionist techniques like pointillism with traditional Indian themes. His prolific body of work, which often focused on landscapes and portraits rendered in vibrant oil and gouache, confirms his primary specialization in painting. Bendre's major artistic contributions and awards were all related to his achievements in the field of painting, making him a celebrated figure but not a sculptor.

The incorrect option is 3: Shanti Dave.
Shanti Dave is primarily known as a major Indian **painter** and a prominent muralist. He was a co-founder of the Baroda Group of Artists and is celebrated for his abstract works and large-scale murals that adorn international spaces like Air India offices. His most famous technical innovation involves the use of **encaustic** (wax mixed with oil) to create layered, high-relief paintings. Although this unique technique gives his canvases a tactile and sculptural *effect*, his artistic output and reputation are definitively in the realm of painting and mural art.

The incorrect option is 4: Jyoti Swaroop.
Jyoti Swaroop is not a well-documented or nationally prominent figure in the context of Indian Modernist art, especially when compared to the established fame of the other three artists on the list. In a multiple-choice question assessing knowledge of specialized artistic fields, an unknown figure should be treated cautiously. Since both N. S. Bendre and Shanti Dave are clearly celebrated painters, and Nagji Patel is a well-recognized sculptor, the evidence overwhelmingly points to Patel as the correct answer, regardless of Jyoti Swaroop's potential but less prominent practice.