Choice C is the best answer because “departed” is the most contextually appropriate way to indicate that Kingman had deviated from the tradition of Chinese landscape painting in a number of ways.

Choice A is not the best answer because while “vacated” does offer some sense of “leaving,” it would be awkward and unconventional to say that that a person was vacating from a tradition in a number of ways.

Choice B is not the best answer because while “evacuated” does offer some sense of “leaving,” it would be awkward and unconventional to say that a person was evacuating from a tradition in a number of ways.

Choice D is not the best answer because while “retired” does offer some sense of “leaving,” it would be awkward and unconventional to say that a person was retiring from a tradition in a number of ways.