painterly

1 of 2

adjective

paint·​er·​ly ˈpān-tər-lē 

1

: of, relating to, or typical of a painter : artistic

painterly attention to detail

2

: suggestive or characteristic of a painting or of the art of painting

painterly photography

especially : marked by an openness of form which is not linear and in which sharp outlines are lacking

painterly brushwork

painterliness noun

painterliness

2 of 2

noun

paint·​er·​li·​ness

ˈpāntə(r)lēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being painterly

Examples of painterly in a Sentence

Adjective

He has a painterly eye.

a painterly picture of the sea

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Imagineer Jason Grandt says the area was heavily inspired by Rocky Mountain National Park as well as the painterly vistas of plein air artists and the murals of Thomas Hart Benton. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Botanical prints on olive green bases brought a tropic vibe to camo, while lush leafy prints created a painterly effect to tops. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026

Beehive is more delicate, sending up painterly tendrils that form a thin scrim in front of the landscape of volcanic sediment, evergreens, and puffy cumulus clouds. — Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

Matt Dillon's Pick Designer Diana Mahrach's newest Hampton Collection embraces flowing silhouettes and painterly prints that effortlessly blur the line between beachwear and evening attire. — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1