Byeon Sangbyeok

Place: Miryang

Biography:

Byeon Sangbyeok was an 18th-century Korean painter of the Miryang Byeon clan during the late period of the Korean Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Byeon is famous for his precise depictions of animals and people in detailed brushwork. His courtesy name is Wanbo and art name is Hwajae. He served as a royal painter of Dohwaseo, the office of painting and then as a hyeongam, a magistrate of a small province. Byeon Sangbyeok was especially excellent at depicting cats and chicken, so he gained nicknames like Byeon Goyang (trans. Byeon Cat) and Byeon Dak (Byeon Rooster). In addition, he was famous for drawing portraits too, so he was also referred as Guksu (國手, a first class artisan) of the time, and his portrait works are over 100 pieces. Though, one of his extant portraits, the portrait of Yun Geup, an officer, does not show his excellent skills. He participated in drawing the portraits of King Yeongjo in 1763 and 1773.