Joseon Dynasty painting
- Culture: Joseon Dynasty
- Made in: Korea
- Date: 1796-1820
- Object type: painting
- Materials: linen
- Museum number: 1920,0317,0.3
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
This is a vivid painting from the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, titled "Guardian-King of the South." You're looking at a heavenly king holding a serpent in his right hand and possibly a flaming jewel in the left. The figure is rendered in color on hemp fabric, a traditional Korean material.
The artwork, along with another, was once displayed at the entrance to a Buddhist temple, symbolizing the four cardinal-direction guardians in Korean religious art. These large-format paintings are known for their bold lines, use of green and earthy tones, and dynamic composition.
Inscriptions in hanja script appear in multiple locations on the piece—some top right and bottom center—as well as a partial inscription beside a red cartouche. Though partially erased, the dates in the cartouche suggest a creation period during the Chinese reign of Jiaqing, between 1796 and 1820. The painting was likely discovered in Daegu and later acquired through a well-known dealer, Yamanaka & Co.
See it in person
Joseon Dynasty painting is on display at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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