Portrait of O Jae-sun

O Jae-sun (1727–1792) rose from Daesaheon (Inspector-General) and Daejehak (Rector of the Hongmun-gwan) under King Jeongjo to Panjungchubusa (Second State Councillor), and was renowned as a scholar versed in the various schools of thought. On the back of the half-moon roller of the Portrait of O Jae-sun's mounting is a paper label reading "A true portrait of Sunam, O Mun-jeong-gong, at the age of sixty-five, painted by Yi Myeong-gi." Although written after O Jae-sun's death, it is thought to depict him at sixty-five, painted by Yi Myeong-gi, a court painter noted for his portraiture at the time. Unlike the light, graded washes used earlier, the artist rendered the form and shading of the face through repeated fine brushstrokes. The folds of the robe are likewise given three-dimensional form through strong contrasts of light and shade, and the pattern of the cloud-and-treasure damask (unbomundan) follows the undulations of the folds. Even the rank badge with its paired cranes is rendered with enough care to convey the texture of embroidery. Although the work applies Western painting technique transmitted through China, it does not abandon the earlier tradition of rendering a clear, serene face chiefly through line. The result achieves the highest level of "conveying the spirit" (jeonsin), combining realism with an ideal beauty. It is a masterpiece representative of the high standard of portrait painting in the late Joseon period. Dimensions (height × width): 151.7 × 89 cm (painted area), 208.5 × 99.8 cm (overall).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물