This is a Korean name; the family name is Byeon.

Byeon Sang-byeok
Hangul	변상벽
Hanja	卞相璧, or 卞尙璧
Revised Romanization	Byeon Sang-byeok
McCune–Reischauer	Pyŏn Sang-pyŏk
Pen name
Hangul	화재
Hanja	和齋
Revised Romanization	Hyajae
McCune–Reischauer	Hwajae
Courtesy name
Hangul	완보
Hanja	完甫
Revised Romanization	Wanbo
McCune–Reischauer	Wanbo

Byeon Sang-byeok was a Korean painter of the Miryang Byeok clan during the late period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Byeon is famous for his precise depictions on animals and people in detailed brushwork.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

His courtesy name (ja) is Wanbo and pen name (ho) is Hwajae. His birth and death dates are unknown, but was active in the mid 18th century during King Sukjong's (r.1674–1720) and King Yeongjo's reign (r. 1724–76). Byeon was praised for his excellent depictions of animals and people. He served as a royal painter of Dohwaseo, the office of painting and then as a hyeongam, a magistrate of a small province.^[1] According to the book titled Jinhui sokgo (震彙續攷), Byeon Sang-byeok was especially excellent at depicting cats and chicken, so he gained nick names like Byeon Goyang (trans. Byeon Cat)^[2] and Byeon Dak (Byeon Rooster). In addition, the book says that Byeon was famous for drawing portraits too, so he was also referred as Guksu (國手, a first class artisan)^[3] of the time, and his portrait works are over 100 pieces. Though, one of his extent 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.^[4]

[edit] Works

Byeon's representative works include "Myojakdo" (Painting of Cats and Sparrows) and "Gyejado" (Painting of a Chicken and Chicks). Myojakdo housed in the National Museum of Korea captures a lively scene of two cats and alarmed sparrows around a tree in detailed brushwork. The depiction of a group of chirping sparrows on twigs are illustrated precisely with very detailed brushstrokes.It is based on his deep affections toward animals and close observations in real life.^[4][5]

[edit] Gallery

Myojakdo ("Painting of Cats and Sparrows")

Gukjeong chumyo ("Autumn cat in a garden with chrysanthemum")

Gyeondo (painting of a dog)

[edit] See also

• Korean painting
• List of Korean painters
• Korean art
• Korean culture

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Byeon Sang-byeok

• Brief biography of Byeon Sangbyeok (Korean)