Masterpiece
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 18:54, 8 June 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 16:01, 16 April 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | [[Image:Mona_Lisa.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Mona Lisa]]'', or '''''La Gioconda.''''' '''''(La Joconde)''''']] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | Originally, the term '''masterpiece''' (or ''[[chef d'œuvre]]'') referred to a piece of [[craft|handcrafted]] [[art]] produced by a [[journeyman]] aspiring to become a [[master craftsman]] in the old European [[guild]] system, which is partially retained today in [[Germany]] and [[France]]. These were (or are) typically perfect pieces of handicraft art, admired for their [[beauty]] and [[elegance]]. | ||
| - | Nowadays this term mostly refers to any [[work of art]] that is considered [[extraordinary]]. In a stronger sense, it can refer to what is considered an artist's [[best]] piece of work. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci's [[Mona Lisa]], Akira Kurosawa's [[Rashomon (film)|Rashomon]], Michelangelo's [[Statue of David]], William Shakespeare's [[Hamlet]], or Ludwig van Beethoven's [[Ninth Symphony]]. | + | '''Masterpiece''' (or ''chef d'œuvre'') in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship. |
| + | |||
| + | Originally, the term ''masterpiece'' referred to a piece of work produced by an [[apprentice]] or [[journeyman]] aspiring to become a [[master craftsman]] in the old European [[guild]] system. His fitness to qualify for guild membership was judged partially by the Masterpiece, and if he was successful, it was retained by the guild. Great care was therefore taken to produce a fine piece in whatever the craft was, whether confectionery, [[painting]], [[goldsmith]]ing, [[Knife making|knifemaking]], or many other trades. The [[Royal Academy]] in [[London]] is one institution that has acquired a fine collection of "Diploma works" as a condition of acceptance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Originally the paper which a student needs to present in order to gain the degree of [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]] was also such a "Masterpiece" - i.e. a fine piece of scholarship, the particular craft in which the student sought to be admitted as a master craftsman. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The term probably derives from the Dutch "meesterstuk" (German: Meisterstück), and the form "masterstik" is recorded in English in 1579 (or in [[Scots language|Scots]], since this was from some [[Aberdeen]] guild regulations), whereas "masterpiece" is first found in 1605, already outside a guild context, in a [[Ben Jonson]] play. | ||
| + | In modern times it is used for an exceptionally good piece of creative work or the best piece of work of a particular artist or craftsman. | ||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | *''[[No More Masterpieces]]'' | ||
| + | *''[[A Quick Trip Through My Adolescence]]'' | ||
| + | * [[Magnum opus]] | ||
| + | |||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 16:01, 16 April 2013
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Masterpiece (or chef d'œuvre) in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship.
Originally, the term masterpiece referred to a piece of work produced by an apprentice or journeyman aspiring to become a master craftsman in the old European guild system. His fitness to qualify for guild membership was judged partially by the Masterpiece, and if he was successful, it was retained by the guild. Great care was therefore taken to produce a fine piece in whatever the craft was, whether confectionery, painting, goldsmithing, knifemaking, or many other trades. The Royal Academy in London is one institution that has acquired a fine collection of "Diploma works" as a condition of acceptance.
Originally the paper which a student needs to present in order to gain the degree of Master of Arts was also such a "Masterpiece" - i.e. a fine piece of scholarship, the particular craft in which the student sought to be admitted as a master craftsman.
The term probably derives from the Dutch "meesterstuk" (German: Meisterstück), and the form "masterstik" is recorded in English in 1579 (or in Scots, since this was from some Aberdeen guild regulations), whereas "masterpiece" is first found in 1605, already outside a guild context, in a Ben Jonson play. In modern times it is used for an exceptionally good piece of creative work or the best piece of work of a particular artist or craftsman.
See also
