Ancient Tree in Empty Mountain《古树空山图轴》

Shen Zongjing (1669–1735)
Shen Zongjing, courtesy names Nanji and Keting, and pseudonyms Shifeng, Shifeng Daoren, and Woxu Shanren, was the son of the famous calligrapher Shen Quan. He hailed from Huating (present-day Shanghai). He excelled in poetry, literature, painting, and music, with a particular talent for landscape painting. He served as Minister of the Imperial Stud.

“Ancient Tree in Empty Mountain” (1714)
This painting’s composition draws inspiration from Ni Zan’s “One River Two Banks” style, with brushwork influenced by Huang Gongwang, achieving an ancient and plain elegance. The paper used was a gift from the recipient, made of Dian Nan bark paper, which differs from Shen’s usual semi-mature Xuan paper. This difference imparts a unique rustic charm to the painting. The inscription at the upper right reads: “This paper was obtained from Dian Nan by Mr. Kai of the Old Men’s Society, who asked me to paint on it as an expression of his feelings. New Spring of the Jiawu year, by Shifeng Shen Zongjing.” The seals read “Shen Zongjing Yin” and “Nanji Shi,” with the collector’s seal “Xian Zeng Zhen Wan” at the lower right.

沈宗敬（1669—1735），字南季、恪庭，号狮峰、狮峰道人、卧虚山人等，著名书法家沈荃之子，华亭（今上海）人。工诗文书画，通音律，尤擅画山水。官至太仆寺卿。

此画构图师自倪赞“一河两岸”式，笔墨则源于黄公望，古雅平淡。因纸是上款人赠送的滇南皮纸，与其常用的偏熟宣纸纸性不同，故没有那么精丽，反生荒寒奇趣。画右上款署：“开老年社翁从滇南得此纸，嘱画因为写政。甲午新春，狮峰沈宗敬。”款下钤白文“沈宗敬印”，朱文“南季氏”印。画右下角钤白文“宪曾珍玩”鉴藏印。