old master

noun

: a work of art by an established master and especially by any of the distinguished painters of the 16th, 17th, or early 18th century
also : such an artist

Examples of old master in a Sentence

Their collection of old masters will be sold at the auction.
Recent Examples on the Web As the Princeton University Art Museum undergoes renovations, its old master paintings remain behind closed doors. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2023 Twenty-five years ago, London’s Courtauld Gallery received an alarming tip: An anonymous caller claimed that 11 of the gallery’s old master paintings weren’t genuine. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 June 2023 When her old master tracks her down, she is confronted by the past. Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 May 2023 The Phoenix museum displays Asian works, Geoffrey Beene couture, Arizona landscapes, American abstracts from early last century, old masters and the occasional Picasso and Warhol. Michael Janofsky, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2023 In calligraphy, the idea is to replicate the old masters’ techniques, thereby refining your own. Jerrine Tan, New York Times, 27 June 2023 In addition to the Kandinsky, their sophisticated art collection included works by Edvard Munch, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Dutch old masters. Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2023 Henry Pettifer, an expert in old masters at Christie’s auction house, just found two. Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2023 The exhibit, which is regularly updated, recently welcomed a contemporary mural created by Mexican craftsmen who were inspired by the old masters and will run through June 12. MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez, ajc, 6 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'old master.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old master was circa 1684

Dictionary Entries Near old master

Cite this Entry

“Old master.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20master. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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