A masterpiece, magnum opus, or chef-d'œuvre (French for 'master of work'; pl. chefs-d'œuvre; French: [ʃɛ.d‿œvʁ]) is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, skill, profundity, or workmanship.
Historically, a "masterpiece" was a work of a very high standard produced to obtain membership of a guild or academy in various areas of the visual arts and crafts.
Etymology
The form masterstik is recorded in English or Scots in a set of Aberdeen guild regulations dated to 1579, whereas masterpiece is first found in 1605, already outside a guild context, in a Ben Jonson play.Masterprize was another early variant in English.
In English, the term rapidly became used in a variety of contexts for an exceptionally good piece of creative work, and was "in early use, often applied to man as the 'masterpiece' of God or Nature".
History
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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 partly by the masterpiece, and if he was successful, the piece 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, leatherworking, or many other trades.
In London, in the 17th century, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, for instance, required an apprentice to produce a masterpiece under their supervision at a "workhouse" in Goldsmiths' Hall. The workhouse had been set up as part of a tightening of standards after the company became concerned that the level of skill of goldsmithing was being diluted. The wardens of the company had complained in 1607 that the "true practise of the Art & Mystery of Goldsmithry is not only grown into great decays but also dispersed into many parts, so as now very few workmen are able to finish & perfect a piece of plate singularly with all the garnishings & parts thereof without the help of many & several hands...". The same goldsmithing organization still requires the production of a masterpiece but it is no longer produced under supervision.
In Nuremberg, Germany, between 1531 and 1572, apprentices who wished to become master goldsmith were required to produce columbine cups, dies for a steel seal, and gold rings set with precious stones before they could be admitted to the goldsmiths' guild. If they failed to be admitted, then they could continue to work for other goldsmiths but not as a master themselves. In some guilds, apprentices were not allowed to marry until they had obtained full membership.
In its original meaning, the term was generally restricted to tangible objects, but in some cases, where guilds covered the creators of intangible products, the same system was used. The best-known example today is Richard Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868), where much of the plot is concerned with the hero's composition and performance of a "masterpiece" song, to allow him to become a meistersinger in the (non-commercial) Nuremberg guild. This follows the surviving rulebook of the guild.
The practice of producing a masterpiece has continued in some modern academies of art, where the general term for such works is now reception piece. The Royal Academy in London uses the term "diploma work" and it has acquired a fine collection of diploma works received as a condition of membership.
Modern use
In modern use, a masterpiece is a creation in any area of the arts 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, profundity, or workmanship. For example, the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is generally considered a literary masterpiece. The term is often used loosely, and some critics, such as Edward Douglas of The Tracking Board, feel it is overused in describing recent films.
See also
- Artistic merit
- Classic
- Great books
- Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
- Painting the Century: 101 Portrait Masterpieces 1900–2000
- Virtual Collection of Asian Masterpieces
- Western canon
References
- "The Theft That Made Mona Lisa a Masterpiece". NPR. July 30, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- "Why Mona Lisa Became An Icon". 21 September 2001.
- Lichfield, John (April 2, 2005). "The Moving of the Mona Lisa". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12.
the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world
- OED:"Masterpiece". See also: Encarta. Archived 2009-11-01.
- OED:"Masterprize"
- "Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: 9780385474542 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- Obioma, Chigozie (2022-10-05). "Top 10 books about Nigeria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- Hardison, Erika (2022-04-25). "15 Of The Best Nigerian Books By Nigerian Authors". BOOK RIOT. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- OED, and examples
- A History of the Goldsmiths' Company. The Goldsmiths' Company. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- Goldsmiths' Company Apprenticeship Programme. Archived 2014-12-30 at archive.today The Goldsmiths' Centre. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- Cup, Silver, room 69, case 25. Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- Forster, John (1976). "VII". Life of Charles Dickens. London: Everyman's Library. p. 6. ISBN 0460007823.
- "John Forster, The Life of Charles Dickens". Classic Literature. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- Monod, Sylvère (1968). Dickens the Novelist. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0806107684.
- "Can We Please Stop Overusing the Word "Masterpiece"? (Opinion)". February 17, 2018.
External links
- Masterpieces at the Louvre.
A masterpiece magnum opus or chef d œuvre French for master of work pl chefs d œuvre French ʃɛ d œvʁ is a creation that has been given much critical praise especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person s career or a work of outstanding creativity skill profundity or workmanship Historically a masterpiece was a work of a very high standard produced to obtain membership of a guild or academy in various areas of the visual arts and crafts In painting Leonardo da Vinci s Mona Lisa c 1503 06 is considered an archetypal masterpiece although it was not produced for admission to a guild or academy EtymologyThe form masterstik is recorded in English or Scots in a set of Aberdeen guild regulations dated to 1579 whereas masterpiece is first found in 1605 already outside a guild context in a Ben Jonson play Masterprize was another early variant in English Things Fall Apart by Igbo author Chinua Achebe is often considered a literary masterpiece and one of the greatest works of Nigerian literature In English the term rapidly became used in a variety of contexts for an exceptionally good piece of creative work and was in early use often applied to man as the masterpiece of God or Nature HistoryThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Masterpiece news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Federico Zuccari Two Painter s Apprentices 1609 They would have to produce a masterpiece to become masters at the end of their apprenticeships 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 partly by the masterpiece and if he was successful the piece 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 leatherworking or many other trades In London in the 17th century the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths for instance required an apprentice to produce a masterpiece under their supervision at a workhouse in Goldsmiths Hall The workhouse had been set up as part of a tightening of standards after the company became concerned that the level of skill of goldsmithing was being diluted The wardens of the company had complained in 1607 that the true practise of the Art amp Mystery of Goldsmithry is not only grown into great decays but also dispersed into many parts so as now very few workmen are able to finish amp perfect a piece of plate singularly with all the garnishings amp parts thereof without the help of many amp several hands The same goldsmithing organization still requires the production of a masterpiece but it is no longer produced under supervision In Nuremberg Germany between 1531 and 1572 apprentices who wished to become master goldsmith were required to produce columbine cups dies for a steel seal and gold rings set with precious stones before they could be admitted to the goldsmiths guild If they failed to be admitted then they could continue to work for other goldsmiths but not as a master themselves In some guilds apprentices were not allowed to marry until they had obtained full membership In its original meaning the term was generally restricted to tangible objects but in some cases where guilds covered the creators of intangible products the same system was used The best known example today is Richard Wagner s opera Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg 1868 where much of the plot is concerned with the hero s composition and performance of a masterpiece song to allow him to become a meistersinger in the non commercial Nuremberg guild This follows the surviving rulebook of the guild The practice of producing a masterpiece has continued in some modern academies of art where the general term for such works is now reception piece The Royal Academy in London uses the term diploma work and it has acquired a fine collection of diploma works received as a condition of membership Modern useIn modern use a masterpiece is a creation in any area of the arts 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 profundity or workmanship For example the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is generally considered a literary masterpiece The term is often used loosely and some critics such as Edward Douglas of The Tracking Board feel it is overused in describing recent films See alsoArtistic merit Classic Great books Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Painting the Century 101 Portrait Masterpieces 1900 2000 Virtual Collection of Asian Masterpieces Western canonReferences The Theft That Made Mona Lisa a Masterpiece NPR July 30 2011 Retrieved February 15 2019 Why Mona Lisa Became An Icon 21 September 2001 Lichfield John April 2 2005 The Moving of the Mona Lisa The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 05 12 the best known the most visited the most written about the most sung about the most parodied work of art in the world OED Masterpiece See also Encarta Archived 2009 11 01 OED Masterprize Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 9780385474542 PenguinRandomHouse com Books PenguinRandomhouse com Retrieved 2023 09 11 Obioma Chigozie 2022 10 05 Top 10 books about Nigeria The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2023 09 11 Hardison Erika 2022 04 25 15 Of The Best Nigerian Books By Nigerian Authors BOOK RIOT Retrieved 2023 09 11 OED and examples A History of the Goldsmiths Company The Goldsmiths Company Retrieved 30 December 2014 Goldsmiths Company Apprenticeship Programme Archived 2014 12 30 at archive today The Goldsmiths Centre Retrieved 30 December 2014 Cup Silver room 69 case 25 Victoria amp Albert Museum Retrieved 30 December 2014 Forster John 1976 VII Life of Charles Dickens London Everyman s Library p 6 ISBN 0460007823 John Forster The Life of Charles Dickens Classic Literature Retrieved 26 June 2012 Monod Sylvere 1968 Dickens the Novelist University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 978 0806107684 Can We Please Stop Overusing the Word Masterpiece Opinion February 17 2018 External linksLook up masterpiece in Wiktionary the free dictionary Masterpieces at the Louvre
