(b Taicang, Jiangsu Province, 1598; d 1677). Chinese painter. He was one of the group of painters of the early Qing period (1644-91) known as the Four Wangs; the others were Wang Shimin, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi. The Four Wangs are credited with establishing the principles of the ORTHODOX SCHOOL as inspired by Dong Qichang. Wang Shimin was Wang Jian's friend and, being six years senior, his mentor. Both artists came from prominent families in Taicang but were unrelated. Wang Jian was the great-grandson of the famous collector Wang Shizhen and inherited his collection of paintings. Owing to his distinguished ancestry, under the Chongzhen emperor (reg 1628-44), Wang Jian was appointed to the government post of Prefect of Lianzhou in Guangdong Province, from which his hao, 'Lianzhou', derives. He served only briefly, however, and lived the rest of his life in retirement.
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