Born into distinguished scholarly family in Suzhou; descendent of Wang Ao 王鏊 (1450–1524).

Received classical education under tutelage of his father. From 1914 to 1924, his father, grandfather, two elder half-brothers and his younger nephew all died; at 17 he was sole surviving male member of his family.

Studied with Fan Haolin樊浩霖 (1885–1962), Gu Linshi 顧麟士 (1865–1930), and Wu Hufan吳湖帆 (1894–1968).

Met Pang Yuanji 龐元濟 (ca. 1865–1949) through Wu Hufan, and acquired Pang’s extensive collection of classical paintings.

Appointed advisor on Chinese painting to the London Exhibition Committee; during three months in 1935-36, examined paintings from the Palace Museum to be exhibited in London.

Held solo exhibitions of his own paintings after 1970 and consolidated his reputation; gradual artistic evolution of his “modern” style.

Integration of Chinese and Western qualities in his work marked by clarity of compositional design and distinctive coloristic flair.