Autumn Mountains in the Style of Ni Zan

Wang Yuanqi, a scholar and court official, was also a painter whose works were highly appreciated by the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) emperors and courtiers.  Known for his intellectual approach to painting, which often incorporates styles and motifs from the past, Wang Yuanqi influenced court taste in painting.  According to the artist's inscription, Autumn Mountains was inspired by the tranquil, plain style of the painter Ni Zan (1301-1374), whose work also provided the model for dividing the landscape into two discrete sections with open space (water) between them.  Wang's rhythmic brushwork and his masterful use of colored washes, however, created a work that is recognizably his own.

Landscape paintings by Wang Yuanqi typically incorporate inscriptions, as seen here. The inscriptions were actually written at different times; the comment in the middle with red impressions of the artist's seals at right and left was composed when Wang executed the painting.  Later he wrote a poem (far right) and an explanatory comment (far left).