出身书香门第，自幼天性喜爱绘画，山水花鸟皆能，兼工篆隶镌刻，旁及古文辞。因没有老师传教，就在家里临摹家藏古代名人画迹，到后来所临字画几可乱真[1]  。
金城家学渊源，对古器物字画收藏甚富。兄弟姐妹早年都游学欧美。他本人亦在英国伦敦铿司大学攻读法律，曾道经美国、法国，考察法制兼及美术。回国后初任上海公共租界会审廨襄谳委员，后被聘为编订法制馆、协修奏补大理院刑科推事、监造法庭工程处会办。
1910年（清宣统二年 庚戌）法部派金城充美洲万国监狱改良会代表，中华民国成立后，任众议院议员、国务秘书、参与筹备古物陈列所，倡议将故宫内库及承德行宫所藏金石、书画于武英殿陈列展览，供广大群众和画家们研究学习。
由于金城对于传统绘画的爱好，展览期间，日携笔研坐，刻苦钻研，并不断地临摹古代佳作珍品。金城初学戴熙的精细笔法，后接近陆廉夫画风。他的山水、花鸟、人物都有古意。
1918年（民国七年 戊午），与周肇祥、陈师曾等在北京筹建中国画学研究会，许多有绘画基础的青年聚集在画学研究会，由金城讲授古代绘画之成就，他竭力提倡保存国粹，临摹画稿，一笔不苟。金城的作品大都仿古、师古，在古人的意境中徘徊。晚年有些写生之作，比之前期的临摹作品，显得富有生气。
1910（清宣统二年 庚戌） 年他创立了闻名遐尔的中国画学研究会，担任中国画学研究会会长。
1920（民国九年 庚申） 年金城发起成立湖社画会。著名近代画家马晋、陈少梅、田世光等皆出身于他的门下。
1926年起每隔一年举办一次的中日绘画联合展览会在日本举办，金城受日本画家邀请，赴日参加展览，受到日本画家的欢迎。
他去世后，画学研究会的部分会员为纪念他，于1927年由他的儿子金潜庵发起组织湖社画会。并编辑出版半月刊《湖社》，后改为月刊，刊登社员及名人作品，介绍古代名画，宣传维护传统画法。湖社影响很大，成员几乎遍及全国，盛极一时。

金城是一位传统功力极为深厚的画家，擅长山水、花鸟，师法宋元，笔墨谨严，以工带写，金城著有《藕庐诗草》、《北楼论画》、《画学讲义》。收录了金城传世画作130余幅，并著有金城的生平概述、绘画艺术特色评述与研究，以及金城本人的论艺文章摘选，和各家评论摘录。另有年表简编，并附有常用印、主要传世作品目录等。
金城是一位颇有革新思想的艺术家，他的绘画发展，大体可以分为三个时期：28岁以前，他的创作以古人为师，临摹为主，大量临习了宗元、吴恽、四王等人的精品之作，为以后的绘画创作，打下了坚实的基础。29岁-45岁这个时期，他的作品仍然以临摹古人为主，兼有创作。46岁以后，金城先生进入了他的创作艺术的高峰时期，作品数量大增。
金城是中国画家中较早接触西画者。他留学的世纪初，正是法国印象派影响欧洲艺术的盛期，这对西方艺术怀有浓厚兴趣的金城产生了影响。

金城的作品大都仿古、师古，在古人的意境中徘徊。晚年有些写生之作，比之前期的临摹作品，显得富有生气。1926年起每隔一年举办一次的中日绘画联合展览会在日本举办，金城受日本画家邀请，赴日参加展览，受到日本画家的欢迎。他去世后，画学研究会的部分会员为纪念他，于1927年由他的儿子金潜庵发起组织湖社画会。并编辑出版半月刊《湖社》，后改为月刊，刊登社员及名人作品，介绍古代名画，宣传维护传统画法。湖社影响很大，成员几乎遍及全国，盛极一时。

Born in a family of scholar, he loved nature painting, Chinese landscape painting can, and zhuanli engraved, and ancient language. Because there is no teacher in the home missionary, copying hidden famous ancient paintings, calligraphy and painting to later be true [1] pro.
Jincheng of artifacts erudite through paternal teaching and influence, very rich collection of calligraphy and painting. Brothers and sisters are early study in the United States and europe. He also studied law in London, our university has one Keng, the United States, France, on legal and art. After returning to the new Shanghai public concession mixed Xiang Yan Court member, was invited to compile legal hall, repair, repair association played magistrate criminal division of Dali Institute of forensic engineering supervision department will do.
1910 (Qing Xuantong two years' law school) Jincheng charge America nations prison reform will represent, after the founding of the Republic, as members of the house of Representatives, the Secretary of state, involved in the preparation of antiquities, the initiative will be in the Imperial Palace and Chengde Palace Library Tibetan inscriptions, calligraphy and painting exhibition in the main, for the masses and artists to study.
As for Jincheng hobbies, traditional painting during the exhibition, to bring pen research to sit, assiduously, and constantly copying ancient treasures masterpiece. Fine brushwork Jincheng beginner Dai Xi, after close to Lu Lian Fu style. His landscapes, flowers and birds, characters are old.
1918 (seven years of the Republic of China, Zhou Zhaoxiang, Chen Shiceng and skelgas) and build China painting in Beijing Painting Research Association, many young people gathered in basic research by Jincheng painting, teaching achievement of ancient painting, he strongly advocated the preservation of quintessence, copying drawings, conscientious and meticulous. Most of the works of Jincheng antique, division of ancient, wandering in the ancient artistic conception. In some painting, than copying works early, is full of anger.
1910 (Qing Xuantong two years') he founded the famous China Painting Research Association, as president of Chinese painting research association.
1920 (Republic of China nine years Geng Shen) annuity city initiated the establishment of Lake Club painting club. The famous modern painters Ma Jin, Chen Shaomei, and so on are born under his door, and so on, are born under the door of his own, such as the artist, and so on, are born under his door.
On 1926 every year to hold a Sino Japanese joint exhibition painting held in Japan, Jincheng by the Japanese artist invited to Japan to participate in the exhibition, by the Japanese artist welcome.
After his death, some members of the painting Research Council to commemorate him, in 1927 by his son Kim Sang Ying organized the lake society painting club. And edited and published fortnightly "Lake Club", later renamed the magazine, published members and famous works, the ancient paintings, propaganda and maintenance of traditional painting. Influence of Lake community members, almost all over the country, very popular.

Jincheng is a traditional skill profound painter, good at landscape, flowers and birds, from the song and Yuan Dynasties, careful to work with ink, writing, author of "Jincheng Shicao", "Ou Lu Bei Lou," on painting "painting materials". Contains more than 130 pieces of paintings from Jincheng Jincheng, and the author of an overview of the life and art characteristics of review and research, and Jincheng himself on the art and the articles to comment. Otherwise a brief chronology, with common India, main masterpieces directory.
Jincheng is a quite innovative idea of artist, his painting development can be roughly divided into three periods: before the age of 28, his creation is dominated by the ancient people, a lot of temporary copy, the Xi Zong Yuan, Wu Yun, et al. A boutique, for later painting creation, laid a solid foundation. 29 -45 years old during this period, his works still to imitate the ancients, with the creation of. After 46 years old, Mr. Kimki entered the peak period of his creative art.
Jincheng is the painter in the western Chinese earlier contact. He studied at the beginning of the new century, it is the French Impressionist influence of European art stage, which have strong interest in Western art Jincheng influence.
Most of the works of Jincheng antique, division of ancient, wandering in the ancient artistic conception. In some painting, than copying works early, is full of anger. On 1926 every year to hold a Sino Japanese joint exhibition painting held in Japan, Jincheng by the Japanese artist invited to Japan to participate in the exhibition, by the Japanese artist welcome. After his death, some members of the painting Research Council to commemorate him, in 1927 by his son Kim Sang Ying organized the lake society painting club. And edited and published fortnightly "Lake Club", later renamed the magazine, published members and famous works, the ancient paintings, propaganda and maintenance of traditional painting. Influence of Lake community members, almost all over the country, very popular.