While Hands Holbein the Younger is most often identified with his English portraits, scholars have long been recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and who was fundamental in synthesizing the novelties of the Italian Renaissance with the tradition of Northern Europe.
A. been recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and who
B. been recognizing him for being a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and he
C. recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist who
D. recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and he
E. recognizing him for being a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and who

This is a GMAT PREP Question

A is wrong "and who"
B E "being"

So I have C and D left . My question for C :- C has " who" relative pronoun :- refers to nearest noun then it is awkward to say "a remarkably versatile artist was fundamental in synthesizing the novelties of the Italian Renaissance with the tradition of Northern Europe

I went for D as left with no choice . I presume that recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist and he is better to connect to separate sentence and he Identifies with "Hands Holbein the Younger "

Also my question is :- is "scholars have long recognizing " is correct Is Scholars <subject> have <verb> what is long (verb/noun) recognizing (participle)

My question is how to select between C and D

Also in D is it wrong to say while <present tense clause>, <present tense clause> and <past tense clause>

Is the squence of tense is important? Correct Answer is C

Can you please check your transcription of the problem? According to what you entered, the correct answer is this sentence:

While Hands Holbein the Younger is most often identified with his English portraits, scholars recognizing him as a superb draftsman and a remarkably versatile artist who was fundamental in synthesizing the novelties of the Italian Renaissance with the tradition of Northern Europe.

That's not grammatically correct. None of the options are, as you typed the question. Please go back and check your GMATPrep software. (And if you pulled this from a post on another forum, you have two choices: go take GMATPrep till you get the question and can check it yourself or go beg whoever posted in the first place to proofread!)