toreutic, a. and n.
(tɒˈruːtɪk)
[ad. Gr. τορευτικός, f. τορεύειν to work in relief, etc.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to toreutics (see B.); chiefly in phr. toreutic art = toreutics; also, of figures, etc., executed according to the toreutic art; of an artist, working in toreutics.
| 1837 Antiq. Athens 38 The Minerva of the Parthenon, also by Phidias, wrought in ivory and gold, the noblest example of the toreutic art. 1854 Gantillon tr. Propertius, Elegies 87 note, Mys.—A toreutic artist who lived b.c. 444. 1874 Edin. Rev. July 187 The best toreutic representations of children are those of the Flemish artist du Quesnoy. 1910 D. G. Hogarth in Encycl. Brit. I. 248/2 The..free sculpture and toreutic handiwork of Crete. |
B. n. [rendering Gr. τορευτική (sc. τέχνη) toreutic art: the Romanized form toreuticē occurs in 17th c. Eng. use]. Chiefly in pl. toreutics: The art, esp. the ancient art, of working in metal or ivory, including embossing, work in relief, chasing, etc.
| [1662 Evelyn Chalcogr. (1769) 16 Then the toreutice..for I can only name them briefly.] 1847 J. Leitch tr. C. O. Müller's Anc. Art §85 This species of work..is reckoned as a branch of toreutics, by which is meant sculpture in metals..and also this combination of metal with other materials. 1900 Year's Work Class. Stud. 45 Pernice continues his notes on toreutic. |