Lee Nyeong

SOUTH KOREA, North Jeolla, Jeonju; Goryeo dynasty

Lee Nyeong was a painter-in-attendance at the Korean Royal Painting Academy. He was adept in painting since he was young, and was particularly renowned for his landscape paintings. He went to China in 1124 with Lee Jageok, and there his paintings were highly praised by Emperor Huizong (reigned 1100–1125) of the Northern Song dynasty, who asked Lee to guide Wang Kexun, Chen Dezhi, and other court painters, in illustrating the painting of Yeseong River. The resulting painting was well-received. In addition, Lee’s representative work, South Gate of Cheonsu Temple, shows the development of painting during the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Unfortunately, the painting no longer exists.