Born in the Jiangsu province, Wang grew up in an artistic, scholarly environment.

His grandfather was a prime minister in the late Ming dynasty, and his father was a Hanlin Academy editor for the court, who had studied with Tung Ch'i-ch'ang.

After learning painting and calligraphy at a young age, Wang worked as a government official.

Wang returned to his homeland and immersed himself in art, creating numerous works.

[2] Wang was the grandfather and tutor of Wang Yuanqi (Chinese: 王原祁; 1642–1715), who was also a notable landscape painter and a member of the Six Masters of the early Qing period.