provenance

prov·e·nance

noun \ˈpräv-nən(t)s, ˈprä-və-ˌnän(t)s\

Definition of PROVENANCE

1

: origin, source

2

: the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

Examples of PROVENANCE

1. Has anyone traced the provenances of these paintings?
2. The artifact is of unknown provenance.

Origin of PROVENANCE

French, from provenir to come forth, originate, from Latin provenire, from pro- forth + venire to come — more at pro-, come

First Known Use: 1785

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

Rhymes with PROVENANCE

Afrikaans