Landscape of Autumnal Mountains

Wang Yuanqi (1642-1715), also known by his courtesy name Maojing, and his literary names Lutai and Shishidaoren, was born in Taicang, Jiangsu Province. He was the grandson of Wang Shimin. He passed the Imperial Exam in the Kangxi Period of Qing Dynasty, and the highest position he held was the Vice Minister (shilang) in the Ministry of Revenue (hubu). He was renowned as one of the “Four Master Painters of the Yuan Dynasty”, and paid homage to Huang Gongwang’s style. His works feature robust and vigorous brush strokes with a composed brushwork, as said by Wang himself that his brushes possess vajra. He instructed many students, thus establishing the “Loudong School”. He was also renowned as on one the “Four Wangs”, the four outstanding mountain-and-water painters in the early Qing Dynasty, along with Wang Shimin, Wang Jian and Wang Hui. These “Four Wangs” together with Wu Li and Yun Shouping were renowned as “Six Master Painters in Qing Dynasty”. He also wrote prose and poems.