Ink on silk 145.5*44.5 cm

Zha Shibiao (1615-1698), also known by his zi (courtesy name) Erzhan and his hao (literary names) Meihe and Meihe Sanren, styled himself Hou Yimao Sheng. A native of Xiuning, Anhui province, he later resided in Yangzhou. A discerning connoisseur, Zha specialized in landscapes that are celebrated for their spare and ethereal brushwork. He is celebrated as one of the “Four Masters of the Anhui School.”In calligraphy, he modeled his style after Dong Qichang. His representative works include the painting Water and Cloud Pavilion(Shuiyunlou Tu), and he also authored the posthumous collection Remnant Manuscripts of the Seed-Planting Hall (Zhongshu tang yigao).