| 释义 |
fine art
[Orig. in pl. as transl. of F. beaux-arts; cf. fine a. III.]
1. In pl., the arts which are concerned with ‘the beautiful’, or which appeal to the faculty of taste; in the widest use including poetry, eloquence, music, etc., but often applied in a more restricted sense to the arts of design, as painting, sculpture, and architecture. Hence in sing. one of these arts; also transf. an art or employment requiring refined and subtle skill comparable to that required in the practice of ‘the fine arts’.
1767[see art n. 11]. 1821Craig Lect. Drawing i. 4 Our advancement in the fine arts. 1839De Quincey Wks. (1864) IV. 1 (title) On Murder, considered as one of the Fine Arts. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits, Aristocracy Wks. (Bohn) II. 85 Often they have been the friends and patrons..of the fine arts. 1884Gladstone Sp. in Parl. 28 Apr., At that period the art of obstruction was not so much of a fine art as it is now. 1890Watson Conf. Poacher v. 58 Poaching is one of the fine arts..and the man who would succeed must be a specialist.
2. collect. sing. In generalized sense: The fine arts as constituting a department of practice or study. Also attrib. (often hyphened fine-art).
1855Geo. Eliot Let. 16 July (1954) II. 210 Literature is Fine Art, and the man who writes mere literature with insolent slovenliness is..inexcusable. 1856Art-Jrnl. 57/3 Glasgow Fine-Art Association... The paintings..were exhibited in the St. Vincent Street Fine-Art Gallery. 1863[see art gallery s.v. art n. 18]. 1942Blunden Romantic Poetry & Fine Arts 17 Mrs. Hemans must have kept a sharp look-out for fine-arts literature. 1955R. Blesh Shining Trumpets (ed. 3) i. 6 A hybridized popular music rather than a fine-art form. 1966Penrose Ann. XIX. 164 One has met fine art students..aware of their awe-inspiring heritage. |