In 7th century which artist did Taranath refer to Maru Pradesh (Marwar)?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The correct option is 3: Shringdhar.
The reference comes from the writings of the 17th-century Tibetan Buddhist historian, Lama Taranath, whose accounts are invaluable for the reconstruction of early Indian art history. Taranath, in his text, refers to an artist named Shringdhar (or Sringadhara) who he states was a key figure in the artistic development of Maru Pradesh (Marwar) in the 7th century CE. Maru Pradesh was a prominent regional center in Western India, and Shringdhar is credited by Taranath with establishing a distinct early-classical style there, which was characterized by fine craftsmanship and a departure from earlier traditions. This makes Shringdhar a historically significant personality in the formative period of Western Indian art, as recorded in Taranath's chronicle.

The incorrect option is 1:
Madhodas is not the artist referenced by Taranath as belonging to the 7th century. The name Madhodas is primarily associated with the later flowering of the Rajasthani miniature schools, often cited as a court painter during the 17th or 18th centuries in centers like Mewar or Bundi. There is a chronological gap of nearly a thousand years between the 7th century when Taranath's artist lived and the period of Madhodas. Therefore, he could not possibly be the master artist of the Maru Pradesh that Taranath described.

The incorrect option is 2:
Shankardas is not among the select few master artists from the 7th-century Maru Pradesh explicitly named in Taranath's vital text. Taranath's historical account focuses on the most pivotal figures—specifically Shringdhar—who established the foundational art style of the region. While many artists worked in the 7th century, Shankardas lacks the historical documentation to be credited as the founder or key master of the Maru style, a distinction reserved by Taranath for Shringdhar. The historical and artistic context of Shankardas remains obscure relative to the clear record of Shringdhar's contribution.

The incorrect option is 4:
Ramsingh Bhati, a common name among the Bhati Rajput clan, is not connected to the 7th-century art history of Maru Pradesh. Figures with this name are generally associated with much later traditions, most likely as court or folk painters during the late medieval period of the 18th or 19th centuries. Their artistic style would be deeply influenced by the developed Mughal and Rajput aesthetics, which are vastly removed from the early style of the 7th century. Attributing a modern historical figure like Ramsingh Bhati to Taranath's 7th-century record is therefore historically inaccurate.