fine art

[ fahyn ahrt ]

noun

1. a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture. Compare commercial art.

fine art

noun

1. art produced chiefly for its aesthetic value, as opposed to applied art
2. Also calledbeaux arts often plural any of the fields in which such art is produced, such as painting, sculpture, and engraving

Word History and Origins

Origin of fine art¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Idioms and Phrases

Something requiring highly developed techniques and skills, as in He's turned lying into a fine art , or The contractor excels in the fine art of demolition . This term alludes to the fine arts , such as music, painting, and sculpture, which require both skill and talent. It is now often used to describe anything that takes skill to do. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

"I tell stories, each object has a meaning," Mr Devonport, who works with offenders and tutors fine art, said.

From BBC

It was not until she was in her 30s that she went to University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she gained a degree in fine art.

From BBC

This was the force of attraction that drew Trump and Cohn to each other, with the latter mentoring the former on how to hone those aptitudes into a fine art.

From Salon

We learn that the character Nathaniel studied fine art and dreams of being "a hybrid, edgy, sexy kind of Brum town Basquiat with a garnish of Banksy", but is in fact stuck working in a call centre.

From BBC

An American model and fine art photographer, she had already been the muse and lover of Man Ray, and had taught photography in New York City.

From Los Angeles Times