Zhejiang has long been noted as the home of paining and calligraphy, producing a large number of literary men. The provincial museum has also been noted for its vast collection of ancient paintings and calligraphy, of which most are works of the Zhejiang School through the ages, while the rest are of other schools.
　　In the Southern Song Dynasty with its capital lying in the Jiannan region of rivers and lakes was presented scenery totally different from that of North China. Therefore, the style of mountains-and-waters paintings was developed to depict an artistic conception. During the Yuan Dynasty rose Literati paintings for a lofty and antique mood. Of “Yuan's Four Scholar-painters”, three were natives of Zhejiang. The famous literati paintings and calligraphy include Huang Gongwang's long scroll of landscape painting 《Residing in Fuchun Mountain》 and Zhao Mengfu's long calligraphy scroll 《Rhapsody on Wuxing》.
　　The Ming and Qing Dynasties saw the continuous emergency of artists and calligraphers in Zhejiang, forming various schools and producing numerous works. Dai Jin Was the founder of the Zhejiang School, who carried forward the Song and Yuan Style. Xu Wei broke a new path in freehand brushwork with ink and wash. Chen Hongshou developed a school of his own in simple and quaint figure painting. Lan Ying, founder of the Wuling School, remained unique in his style of painting by merging the styles of different Yuan school.
　　In the mid-Qing Dynasty, Ding Jing founded a school consisting of “Eight Master Epigraphists at Xiling”. This gave rise to the influential Zhejiang School developing a fresh style of seal engraving and enjoying enduring fame.
　　In the late Qing Dynasty, another new school of flower-and-bird painting, represented by Zhao Zhiqian, etc.rose to prominence, culminating in another heyday of the flower-and-bird painting in painting history.