Image display apparatus

An image display apparatus comprising:

• a display element haying a display surface configured to display an image;
• and
• an optical system configured to introduce light from the display surface to an observer,
• wherein the optical system includes in order from the display element toward the observer:
• a first phase plate;
• a semi-transmissive reflective surface;
• a lens;
• a second phase plate;
• and
• a polarization beam splitter configured to reflect a first linearly polarized light and transmit a second linearly polarized light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to that of the first linearly polarized light, and
• wherein, when a direction in which a normal to the display surface extends is referred to as a normal direction, and a direction tilted outward of the display surface with respect to the normal direction is referred to as a specific direction, the display element is configured to make, at a central portion of the display surface, color shift in the normal direction smaller than that in the specific direction, and to make, at a most edge portion of the display surface, the color shift in the normal direction larger than that in the specific direction.