Although he was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu, Zhu Henian lived most of his life in Beijing. Along with Zhu Angzhi (d. circa 1840) and Zhu Benshi, he is called one of the Three Zhu. Having begun painting at an early age, Zhu Henian specialized in landscapes modeled after those of Shitao (1642-1707), bird and flower, figure and rock and bamboo paintings.