像ぞう主しゅ

noun

subject of a portrait or bust; person posing for a portrait or bust

Rare term used in art contexts to refer to the person depicted in a portrait or sculpture.

• この肖しょう像ぞう画がの像ぞう主しゅは、当とう時じの有ゆう力りょくな商しょう人にんだったと伝つたえられている。

  The subject of this portrait is said to have been an influential merchant of the time.

noun

patron; commissioner of a Buddhist temple or artwork

Historical term for a patron who commissioned Buddhist temples or works of art.

• この仏ぶつ像ぞうは、像ぞう主しゅである貴き族ぞくの名なが銘めい文ぶんに刻きざまれている。

  This Buddhist statue has the name of its patron, a nobleman, inscribed in the inscription.