Portrait of Yunjeung

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1495

Category

Painting

Era

초상18세기, 전적19세기

Designated year

2006

Location

논산시, 충청남도— 충청남도 논산시

Coordinates

36.187066, 127.098745

The Five Portraits of Yun Jeung (1629-1714), a prominent scholar and politician of the mid-Joseon Dynasty, have been designated as Treasure No. 1495. They include two bust portraits painted by Jang Gyeong-ju in 1744, one three-quarter view and one full-frontal portrait; and two full-length portraits painted by Yi Myeong-gi in 1788, both of which are three-quarter views, although one of them was executed using old techniques, the other with new techniques. They were all produced after Yun's death: Jang Gyeong-ju copied from an earlier version by Byeon Sang-byeok, while Yi Myeong-gi produced his versions based on Jang's works, according to the Track Records of the Portrait Hall (Yeongdang gijeok) handed down through Yun's descendants. The Track Records of the Portrait Hall is a hand-copied edition containing detailed information about the production of Yun's Portraits, which were executed on four occasions. The Track Records state that the portraits were first painted by Byeon Sang-byeok (also known as Byeon Ryang) in 1711, followed by Jang Gyeong-ju in 1744, Yi Myeong-gi in 1788, and Yi Han-cheol in 1885. The records present in detail the production date of each portrait, the number of works produced, the process of creating or copying each portrait, and the enshrinement procedure, as well as the tradition of burning drafts. All of Yun's extant portraits are important in view of the subject's prominence in the history of Joseon philosophy and politics, as well as the painters' reputation as leading portraitists of the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty. Apart from these portraits, the head family of the Yun Clan also keeps two other full-length portraits, painted in 1919 and 1935, and many draft sketches.

Location