A luminescent device (for example an autoluminescent flat display and particularly an organic electroluminescent device or display using an organic thin film as an electroluminescent layer) having a plurality of luminescing units (pixels PX) each selectively made to luminesce by a current is provided with a control part (current control circuit part 40) for accurately controlling the brightness of the luminescing units by controlling the current flowing through each luminescing unit on the basis of a brightness signal from outside, which is preferably supplied as pre-programmed memory information. As a result, it is possible to realize distinct luminescing (image display) at all times even with a passive matrix type pixel structure.