Draft portrait of Song Siyeol

As recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty more than three thousand times, Song Siyeol (1607–1689) was an eminent scholar and official whose Confucian philosophy influenced many literati during the Joseon dynasty. This portrait depicts the sitter in scholarly attire with a squared headdress (sabangmo) and an informal robe (yeon’geobok), showing his identity as a neo-Confucian scholar. The precise and realistic illustration of his numerous wrinkles, hoary hairs, and elongated earlobes suggests the extraordinary, even sage-like appearance of the figure.

Since his time, many portraits of Song Siyeol were created and copied to be displayed in Confucian academies all over the country. This draft portrait appears to date from the nineteenth century. Interestingly, this draft has a rare inscription about the sitter, praising his characteristics and intelligence. The inscription was copied from a eulogy on an earlier portrait of Song by famed scholar Kim Changhyeop (1651–1708). It reads:

“With the appearance of a sage hero
He practiced virtues humbly and judiciously.
Though besieged within narrow confines
His valor and courage reached the universe.
With a small physique he fulfilled heavy duties.
Thus, he could match Mount Hua and Mount Song.
Even while serving at court as the king’s teacher
He never boasted of his exalted position.
Even retired, with deer for company in a valley
He never considered himself impoverished.
Commanding as a solid pillar rising from a river,
Imposing as a tall pine tree enduring winter,
Those who will look billions of years later
At this image with a three-quarter view,
Can see the energy of three hundred years.”