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Portrait of King Yeongjo

영조어진 ( 英祖御眞 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Portrait of King Yeongjo
Quantity 1 portrait
Designated Date 1987.12.26
Age Joseon
Address National Palace Museum of Korea 12, Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

This is a portrait of King Yeongjo (1694-1776), the 21st ruler of the Joseon Dynasty who ruled from 1724 to 1776. King Yeongjo adopted “a policy of impartiality” to appoint talented officials from various political parties and establish social and political order once he assumed the throne. As a result of his effort and his own devotion to learning, the Joseon Dynasty enjoyed renaissance under his rule. The original version of this portrait was painted by Jang Gyeong-ju and Kim Du-ryang in 1744 (20th year of King Yeongjo’s reign) when the king was 51 years old but was unfortunately burnt during the Korean War. This portrait is a copy made by the most skillful artists in the 1900s and is 68 cm wide and 110 cm long. In this half-length portrait, King Yeongjo is staring at the right side, wearing a winged cap and a red robe over his shoulders. The robe is embroidered with dragon designs on the shoulders and chest parts. He has flushed cheeks, and his eyes are looking up. His high-bridged nose and its edges and the ends of the lips are straight, like a sculpture. Following the style of that time, the contour lines of the robes are not drawn separately, and the ornamental belt is painted on the upper part of the chest. Though this is not the original portrait of King Yeongjo, it is one of the significant royal portraits remaining today.