Final answer:
The sculptor depicted arrogance and cruelty on Ozymandias' face in the statue to show his overconfident belief in his own superiority, reflecting an attitude of harshness and oppression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, which describes a statue of a once powerful ruler now fallen into ruins. The sculptor, through his work, has managed to capture certain traits of the ruler Ozymandias that reflect his personality. In the face of the statue, the sculptor depicted arrogance. This is evident from the line in the poem:
'And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
This passage suggests the ruler's overconfidence and belief in his superiority. Therefore, out of the given options, a) Cruelty is what the sculptor chiselled into the statue's face to show Ozymandias' arrogance. The visage speaks of a ruler's harsh and oppressive demeanour over others. Unlike the Roman aristocrat portrayed with sagging jowls meant to convey virtue and gravitas, Ozymandias' face was carved to express his hubris and oppressive nature.
It should be noted, that although the poem does convey a sense of the ruler's power, what the sculptor has particularly captured and conveyed through the visage is his cruel and authoritative personality, rather than a generalized sense of power, meanness or compassion.