Portrait of Prince Yeoning: A Rare Firsthand Joseon Royal Painting
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
A 1714 portrait of Prince Yeoning (later King Yeongjo) by court painter Park Dong-bo is the only surviving Joseon painting known to be drawn from the subject’s live appearance. The large silk painting, once housed at Changgyeonggung, lost about a quarter of its right side in a 1954 fire during wartime evacuations; 30 of 48 royal portraits were destroyed. Dressed in green danryeong robes and wearing an osamo hat, the prince sits in a formal pose with subtle shading around the eyes, nose and mouth that gives lifelike depth while maintaining the reserved expression customary in royal portraits. The chest emblem (hyeongbae) shows a mythical white beast (백택) — a symbol associated with a virtuous reign — rendered in gold along with clouds and waves; it reflects strict rank-based costume codes of Joseon court attire. An inscription notes his early title and the house name Yangseongheon (양성헌), given by King Sukjong to encourage cultivation of innate virtue. The painting was executed by royal command when the prince was 21; he would later become King Yeongjo in 1724. Court portraits were state matters meant to preserve and legitimize rulers, and Yeongjo is unique for having portraits from both before and after his accession.
