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

This is perhaps why Dulwich Picture Gallery, a London museum known for its collection of over 600 old master paintings, is the perfect place for Critchlow’s debut at a major British institution. —Kadish Morris, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

The old master waxed lyrical about his own confrontations with the US in a stirring defense of Canadian identify and patriotism. —Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025

The art in these museums is almost always contemporary, reflecting the dearth of available old masters along with a global chattering-classes consensus that avant-garde art is socially, intellectually, and culturally important. —Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025

So if these new ideas aren’t working out, why not return to the old master? —Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for old master

• bandmaster
• broadcaster
• cadastre
• disaster
• forecaster
• headmaster
• newscaster
• paymaster
• pilaster
• postmaster
• roadmaster
• schoolmaster