Imitation of Mi Fu’s ‘Strange Stone Letter《节临米芾《异石帖》轴》

Shen Quan (1624–1684)
Shen Quan, courtesy name Zhenrui and nicknamed Yitang and Chongzhai, was a native of Huating (modern-day Shanghai). In 1652, during the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign, he was honored with the title of editor after a successful examination in Hua. Later, he served in the Hanlin Academy, ultimately becoming Minister of Rites in the Zhanshi Mansion, with the posthumous title “Wen Ke.” Shen Quan’s ancestry included the renowned Ming Dynasty calligrapher Shen Can, and he shared a hometown with Dong Qichang. This cultural legacy inspired Shen Quan’s early dedication to calligraphy. He drew heavily from Dong Qichang’s elegance and Mi Fu’s structural integrity and composure, blending their influences into a distinctive style. Shen Quan enjoyed great favor from Emperor Kangxi and was one of the leading calligraphers of the Kangxi era.

“Imitation of Mi Fu’s ‘Strange Stone Letter'”(1677)
This scroll, created when Shen Quan was 54 years old, reflects his mature calligraphic style. While the work imitates Mi Fu’s Different Stone Tie, Shen Quan introduced his own variations: certain characters are omitted, repositioned, or mirrored. His inscription reads: “Summer letter of Dingsi, Kangxi, Shen Quan,” accompanied by seals including “Seal of Shen Quan,” two white seals reading “Zhangzhan Xueshi,” and the Zhu (vermillion) seal “Yiyanzhai.”

In this piece, Shen Quan demonstrates a restrained and measured hand. His brushwork is steady and modest, diverging from Mi Fu’s dynamic and vigorous energy. Instead, the composition carries the graceful essence of Dong Qichang’s style, reflecting Shen Quan’s role as a court calligrapher who prioritized balance and serenity in his work. Notably, while his calligraphy lacks the flamboyance of later imperial calligraphers, it retains a rustic charm appreciated by scholars of his time, highlighting Shen Quan’s mastery of both elegance and authenticity.

沈荃（1624—1684），字贞蕤，号绎堂、充斋，华亭（今上海）人。顺治九年（1652）探花，授编修，累官至翰林院侍读学士、詹事府詹事礼部侍郎，卒谥“文恪”。他的先祖是明代大书法家沈粲，又与董其昌是同乡，故自幼于书法用功甚勤。他在师法董其昌的同时上溯米芾，其书既有董其昌的秀美，又有米芾欹侧的结体与沉着的用笔。沈荃极得康熙帝推重，是康熙年间最重要的书法家之一。

此《节临米芾<异石帖>轴》是沈荃54岁时所书，是其晚年手笔。此临作与米芾《异石帖》内容实有出入，或为背临而略字，或为对临而跳字。款署：“康熙丁巳夏日书，沈荃。”下钤印“沈荃之印”、“掌詹学士”二白文印；启首为“一砚斋”朱文印。该作是其典型的风格面目，运笔敦厚，不激不厉，虽结体颇似米芾，然痛快劲健上不及，颇有些董其昌灵秀的形神在其中。这并非是他不知米字特点，而是他本身受董影响较大，加上身为宫廷书家，更追求一种中庸平和之风。需要指出的是，沈荃虽然个人面目不甚突出，但还能保持较多文人喜欢的生拙趣味，艺术品质较高，与后来宫廷书家的那种皇家富丽气还是不同的。