Self-inscription in regular script reads:

Autumn Vapours Over the Red-leafed Forest in the manner
of Fan Hua-yuan (Kuan)

Unsigned.  2 seals: Wang Hui chih-yin.  Shih-ku.

Wang Hui (1632 - 1720) was a native of Chang-shu in Chiang-su.  His tzu was Shi-ku and hao Keng-yen san-jen.  A noble from the Imperial Court once presented him with the studio plaque Ching-hui-ke, after which he also named himself, as Hui-ke Chu-jen, or Hui-ku Lao-jen.  He also called himself Wu-mu Shan-jen, Chien-men Chiao-ke.  Gifted in painting since childhood, he showed great talent in brush wielding and composition and became widely known.  When Wang Lien-chou (Chien) of Tai-chang visited Yu-shan and met him he was very impressed, and told the young artist "You should paint in the manner of the ancients" and took the latter home with him.  At first he taught him to train in ancient methods for several months, and personally instructed him from original, ancient works by famous masters.  The latter showed great advancement in his craft.  When Wang Lien-chou (Chien) had to serve in a distant office he felt that there was no one up to teaching young Wang Hui, other than Wang Yen-ke (Shih-min) and summoned the latter to take over instruction of Hui.  Wang Shih-min (Yen-ke) was so impressed with Wang Hui that he signed, "This is Yen-ke's master...how can he learn from Yen-ke?"  and thus took young Hui to journey among the beautiful scenery north and south of the (Yang-tze) River, introducing him to original masterpieces in various private collections.  Shih-ku (Wang Hui) was thus awakened to the mysteries of painting, and having personally received instructions from the Two Wang became a great painter of his generation.  He excelled in the painting of ancient styles.  Many masterpieces of the Tang and Sung dynasty now lost, are transmitted through his close copies.  For this reason he is considered a major contributor (to the preservation and transmission) of ancient painting.  He enjoyed a long and productive life of 89 years by Chinese count.