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 At age 85, the old master will return to Cannes to unveil his latest go-for-broke provocation and compete once again, perhaps for the last time, in the business he’s chosen. Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024 The festival is now just two days away, as the group puts the final logistical touches on a lineup featuring West Coast premieres of Sundance, Locarno and Rotterdam selections, as well as some old masters, namely restorations of films by Chantal Akerman and sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024 Some had originated a millennium ago in the Middle East and Asia and are shown in old master paintings and Ottoman tiles. The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Gainsborough’s ‘The Blue Boy’ In the early 20th century, Joseph Duveen made a fortune by importing old masters from Europe at a quick clip for his clients—Henry Clay Frick foremost among them, but also William Randolph Hearst and J. P. Morgan. The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024 The show delivers bombastic examples by many of the old masters — Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg — while pondering whether Pop has a place in today’s cultural landscape. Christian House, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 The lushness of the imagery is exquisite, turning the visual language of a psychosexual thriller into the evocative work of an old master. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2023 To get the best of both worlds, some old masters may have combined the two techniques. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Mar. 2023 The museum, still fledgling, missed many of the old masters bargains and wanted a signature specialty. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 1 Feb. 2024

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 27 Apr. 2024.

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