In an active matrix organic EL display including a drive control element which has a first terminal connected to a first power supply terminal, a control terminal, and a second terminal which outputs a driving current having a magnitude corresponding to the voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal, a capacitor which has one electrode connected to the control terminal and can maintain the voltage between the first terminal and the control terminal constant, and an organic EL element connected between the second terminal and a second power supply terminal, a plurality of switches connected in series are used as switches between the second terminal and the control terminal to obtain a perfect nonconductive state, and the switch on the control terminal side is set in the nonconductive state earlier than the remaining switch, thereby decreasing the potential shift amount generated by the capacitance of the switches themselves.