Ink on gold-surfaced paper 18*54.5 cm

Shen Shichong (active 16th-17th century), also known by his zi (courtesy name) Ziju, was a native of Songjiang (in present-day Shanghai). He specialized in landscapes and baimiao (plain-line) figure painting, characterized by relaxed yet refined brushwork and rich, mellow ink tones. A central figure of the orthodox Songjiang School, he frequently served as a “ubstitute brush”(daibi) for Dong Qichang. Later, he emerged as a leader of the Yunjian School. By studying the masters Juran and Huang Gongwang and emulating the works of various Song and Yuan precursors, he achieved a mastery that captured both formal likeness and spiritual resonance. His representative paintings include Landscapes in the Styles of Ancient Masters(Fanggu shanshui tu) and Autumn Forest and Water Pavilion(Qiulin shuige tu).