An Old Master (or old master) is a term for a
European painter of skill who worked before about
1800, or a painting by such a painter. An
Old master print is an original
print (for example an
engraving or
etching) made by an artist in the same period. Likewise an Old master
drawing. In theory an Old Master should be an artist who was fully trained, was a Master of his local
artists' guild, and worked independently, but in practice paintings considered to be produced by pupils or workshops will be included in the term. Therefore, beyond a certain level of competence, date rather than quality is the criterion for using the term.
See more at Wikipedia.org...