Concept
Masterpiece
Overview
A masterpiece, magnum opus (Latin for 'great work'), 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 by an apprentice to obtain full membership, as a "master", of a craft guild or academy in various areas of the visual arts and crafts.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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It was a masterpiece of human wisdom; but it was premature, and could not be permanently successful at a time when men were still governed on theological principles, and practical life still retained its military character. This separation of powers, on which the final organization of society will principally depend, is understood and valued nowhere but in the new school of philosophy, if we except the unconscious…
Auguste Comte, A General View of Positivism Or, Summary exposition of the System of Thought and Life
States what Masterpiece is; opens on Masterpiece.
To excel in any profession, in which but few arrive at mediocrity, it is the most decisive mark of what is called genius, or superior talents. The public admiration which attends upon such distinguished abilities makes always a part of their reward; a greater of smaller, in proportion as it is higher or lower in degree. It makes a considerable part of that reward in the profession of physic; a still greater…
Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
States what Masterpiece is.
Many of Leonardo's later admirers have attempted to wipe off the stain of unsteadiness from his character. They maintained that what is blamed in Leonardo is a general characteristic of great artists. They said that even the energetic Michelangelo who was absorbed in his work left many incompleted works, which was as little due to his fault as to Leonardo's in the same case. Besides some pictures were not as…
Sigmund Freud, Leonardo da Vinci
Names Masterpiece.
Philosophers who discussed Masterpiece
- John Scotus Eriugena
- Dignāga
- Lev Shestov
- Jürgen Habermas
- Giambattista Vico
- George Santayana
- Renaissance
- Henry Corbin
- Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen
- Sakya Pandita
- Philipp Mainländer
- W. K. C. Guthrie
- Julien Offray de La Mettrie
- Frantz Fanon
- Herman Dooyeweerd
- William of Heytesbury
- Isaac Aboab I
- Three Versions of Judas
Related ideas
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of British philosophy.