A liquid crystal device includes a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal
layer interposed between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal layer
being composed of liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy in
which an initial alignment state thereof is vertical; and an optical
compensating plate which is provided outside at least one substrate of
the pair of substrates and has negative refractive index anisotropy. The
liquid crystal is pretilted in a predetermined direction, and an optical
axis direction of the optical compensating plate is substantially
parallel to the pretilt direction of the liquid crystal.