一種のX versus Xの一種


> 絵画は絵の一種だ。  
>  A painting is a kind of picture. (given translation)

If I was told to translate the English sentence to Japanese I would have
written 絵画は一種の絵だ, since the basic sentence is 絵画は絵だ not 絵画は一種だ.

If I were to translate 絵画は絵の一種だ to English I would say "a painting is of the
picture variety"· This sentence sounds a bit more formal but essentially has
the same meaning.

Are both Xの一種 and 一種のX grammatically correct? Do they have the same meaning?
Do they have the same formality?




`Xの一種` is a matter-of-fact phrase that is used to say something is one type of
the category X. Considering the fact that の and “of” in English work in the
opposite direction, we could see this as the direct equivalent of “a kind of
X”.

`一種のX` seems to imply the referenced thing is a somewhat unconventional, or
depending on the context, even substandard member of the category X. `ある種のX`
also has similar connotations.




`Xの一種` is a matter-of-fact phrase that is used to say something is one type of
the category X. Considering the fact that の and “of” in English work in the
opposite direction, we could see this as the direct equivalent of “a kind of
X”.

`一種のX` seems to imply the referenced thing is a somewhat unconventional, or
depending on the context, even substandard member of the category X. `ある種のX`
also has similar connotations.

