Virtu

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Virtu \Vir*tu"\ (?; 277), n. [It. virt[`u] virtue, excellence,
     from L. virtus. See {Virtue}.]
     A love of the fine arts; a taste for curiosities. --J.
     Spence.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {An article of virtu}, or {a piece of virtu} an object of art
        or antiquity; a curiosity, such as those found in museums
        or private collections.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I had thoughts, in my chambers to place it in view,
              To be shown to my friends as a piece of virt[`u].
                                                    --Goldsmith.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  virtu
       n 1: love of or taste for fine objects of art [syn: {vertu}, {connoisseurship}]
       2: artistic quality [syn: {vertu}]
       3: objet d'art collectively (especially fine antiques)

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  43 Moby Thesaurus words for "virtu":
     aesthetics, art, art object, artistic skill, artistic taste,
     artistry, arty-craftiness, brainchild, bric-a-brac, classic,
     composition, connoisseurship, creation, design, dilettantism,
     epicureanism, epicurism, expertise, expertism, flair, friandise,
     gastronomy, grotesque, kitsch, master, masterpiece, masterwork,
     mobile, museum piece, nude, old master, pasticcio, pastiche, piece,
     piece of virtu, stabile, statue, still life, study, talent,
     virtuosity, work, work of art