A vertically aligned liquid crystal cell to be simple-matrix driven is disposed between two polarizing plates crossed-Nicol disposed, the liquid crystal cell including a liquid crystal layer having a retardation in a cross section in a thickness direction larger than 550 nm. A C plate and a biaxial plate are disposed collectively between the liquid crystal cell and one of the polarizing plates, the C plate being disposed on the liquid crystal cell side and the biaxial plate being disposed on the polarizing plate side. The biaxial plate is disposed in such a manner that the in-plane delay phase axis of the biaxial plate is perpendicular to the absorption axis of the adjacent polarizing plate.