Portrait of Ihyeonbo

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.872

Category

Painting

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1986

Location

안동시, 경상북도— 경상북도 안동시 퇴계로 1997 (도산면, 한국국학진흥원)

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

This is the Portrait of Yi Hyeon-bo (1467-1555, pen-name: Nongam), a civil official and sijo (Korean traditional three-line poem) writer of the mid-Joseon Period. This portrait, drawn on silk, is 105 centimeters wide and 126 centimeters long. Yi Hyeon-bo passed the civil service examination in 1498 (fourth year of King Yeonsangun’s reign) and served in diverse government posts until he retired and went to his hometown to train the younger generation. He wrote many books, but his poem Eobuga (Song of Fisherman) is particularly famous. In the portrait, he wears a pointed bamboo hat as well as red clothing and belt made with the bone of a water buffalo. He is looking at the right side and sitting in front of a desk. Portraits of this age usually do not show the person’s hands, but Yi Hyeon-bo in this painting is holding a monk’s fly swatter in one hand and gripping the desk in the other. His black leather shoes are also shown under the desk. This portrait is presumed to have been painted by Okjun, a famous monk painter of Donghwasa Temple, in 1537 (32nd year of King Jungjong’s reign) when Yi was a provincial governor. Later, his descendant made a copy of this original out of fear of damage in 1827 (27th year of King Sunjo’s reign). It shows a unique figure of him and the old style of painting that touches the face and clothes’ folds with simple line. It is considered to be highly valuable, since few portraits of the 16th century remain today.