( fl first half of the 12th century). Korean painter. A native of Chonju (now in North Cholla Province), he was one of the first known landscape painters of the Koryo period (918–1392). Although he is sometimes referred to as the greatest painter of this period, very few facts are known about his life and virtually nothing definite is known about his art, as none of his highly praised paintings has survived. During the early years of the reign of King Injong (reg 1122–46), Yi Nyong accompanied the diplomat Yi Cha-dok to China, where he is said to have achieved great fame at the court of the Northern Song emperor Huizong (reg 1100–25), himself a painter and patron of the arts. The Koryosa (‘History of Koryo’) mentions that Yi Nyong served in the Hanlin painting academy (see CHINA, §V, 4(i)(b)–(c)). After his return to Korea he founded a school of painters. This produced a handful of students, who are said to have continued his style. Yi Nyong was repeatedly called to the Inner Palace in the Koryo capital of Kaesong to render his services as a painter to the throne. His connection with the Northern Song court doubtless helped to secure him his enduring fame. The titles of two of his paintings survive: View of the Chesong River and Scene of the Southern Gate of Ch’onsu Monastery. It may be supposed that Yi Nyong painted in the mannered, formalized style characteristic of the professional landscape painters of the painting academy in Kaifeng, the Northern Song capital. Yi Nyong’s son, Yi Kwang-p’il, was also known as a painter, but none of his works has survived.

• Yi Nyong
  • Korea, §IV, 2(ii)(b): Landscape painting: Koryo, AD 918–1392