Portrait of Sim Hwan-ji

Sim Hwan-ji (1730-1802/penname: Manpo) passed a state exam for recruiting high-ranking government officials in 1771 (47th year of King Yeongjo’s reign) and climbed the bureaucratic ladder to Minister of Defense, Personnel, and Justice and then Prime Minister by 1800.
This portrait depicts him sitting on a chair in his dark green official robe. His robe displays the characteristics of an official robe at the end of the 18th Century: deeply cut lapel, smaller cloud patterns than before, piece of embroidered cloth attached to the front and back displaying a pair of cranes with an elixir twig in the mouth, and very wide sleeves. A piece of tiger leather is laid on the floor. His feet are laid on a footrest, with the toes spreading outward. Short, slanted lines portray the mat realistically. The painter’s skills are evident in the portrayal of the face full of liveliness and the overall calm, harmonious atmosphere.