As faithful followers of Dong Qichang, the Four Wangs, Chinese painters of the early Qing dynasty, viewed painting, both in theory and also practice, to be an intellectual discipline whereby the study of classical models and a mastery of brushwork were the two main issues.

A) both in theory and also practice, to be an intellectual discipline whereby the study of
B) both in theory and in practice, as an intellectual discipline in which the study of
C) both in theory and practice, to be an intellectual discipline in which to study
D) in both theory and in practice, as an intellectual discipline, and to study
E) in both theory as well as practice, as an intellectual discipline in which studying

Please explain POE
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