The image display device includes a light source section having light emitting subsections; a display panel; and a display control section performing a control. An input frame image is decomposed into a plurality of field images and the field images are displayed in a field sequential manner. A differential image for each of the three primary-color components is obtained by subtracting a common luminance portion from the subsection-drive frame image. The differential image and a common image configured of the common luminance portion are sequentially outputted to the display panel in a time-divisional manner. In the first field period for outputting the differential image of a primary color component, corresponding primary color light is emitted, and in a second field period for outputting the common image, multiple kinds of primary color light, corresponding to the primary-color components configuring the common luminance portion, are emitted together.