Who among the following famous art historians on the basis of iconographic studies held that sanchi was a 'centre of tree serpent worship'?

James Fergusson

The correct answer is Option (2) → James Fergusson

James Fergusson, a noted art historian, suggested that Sanchi was a center of tree serpent worship based on his iconographic studies of the site.

The motif of the serpent, present on numerous pillars at Sanchi, warrants our consideration. The emblem appears to draw from prevailing traditions that weren't necessarily documented in texts. Intriguingly, even one of the earliest modern art historians, James Fergusson, perceived Sanchi as a hub of tree and serpent veneration. It's noteworthy that Fergusson's understanding was shaped without access to a comprehensive understanding of Buddhist literature, most of which remained untranslated during his time. His conclusion stemmed solely from studying the visual representations in isolation.