Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
obra-prima
English translation:
masterpiece
Added to glossary by
Scott Hendry Jackson
Jan 21, 2018 14:43
6 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Portuguese term
obra-prima
Portuguese to English
Art/Literary
Architecture
The text is from a letter written by Le Corbusier to a client, talking about the house he intended to build in Argentina, later known as the "Curutchet House".
I'm aware that the term "obra-prima" can be translated as "masterpiece", though I'm not sure if that's the best term in this context (i.e. the architect explaining about his intentions). The original letter is possible in French or Spanish, but the article I'm translating is in Portuguese. So it might be a translation of a translation.
Please let me know your suggestions.
All the best,
Scott
FULL CONTEXT:
“Tendo estabelecido o Plano de Buenos Aires em 1938-1939 que atualmente está sendo considerado pelo governo, estou interessado na idéia de fazer uma pequena casa doméstica na qual eu gostaria de fazer uma pequena ***obra-prima*** de simplicidade, conveniência e de harmonia, sempre dentro dos limites de uma construção extremamente simples e sem luxos, perfeitamente conformando, por outro lado, com os meus hábitos”
I'm aware that the term "obra-prima" can be translated as "masterpiece", though I'm not sure if that's the best term in this context (i.e. the architect explaining about his intentions). The original letter is possible in French or Spanish, but the article I'm translating is in Portuguese. So it might be a translation of a translation.
Please let me know your suggestions.
All the best,
Scott
FULL CONTEXT:
“Tendo estabelecido o Plano de Buenos Aires em 1938-1939 que atualmente está sendo considerado pelo governo, estou interessado na idéia de fazer uma pequena casa doméstica na qual eu gostaria de fazer uma pequena ***obra-prima*** de simplicidade, conveniência e de harmonia, sempre dentro dos limites de uma construção extremamente simples e sem luxos, perfeitamente conformando, por outro lado, com os meus hábitos”
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +8 | masterpiece | Luiz Fernando Doin |
5 +3 | magnum opus | Nick Taylor |
4 +2 | work of art | Katarina Peters |
4 +1 | Masterwork | Acácio Alves |
Proposed translations
+8
56 mins
Selected
masterpiece
Masterpiece parece encaixar-se perfeitamente no contexto...
Note from asker:
Thanks, Luiz... Thanks also to @Teresa Borges for the research. Apparently, "masterpiece" has already been published in an English language version. The original term in French was "chef d’œuvre". We'll go with masterpiece for consistency. |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Margarida Ataide
1 hr
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Mario Freitas
:
1 hr
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Oliver Simões
1 hr
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
T o b i a s
4 hrs
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Flavia Martins dos Santos
4 hrs
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
7 hrs
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Matheus Chaud
8 hrs
|
Obrigado!
|
|
agree |
Gilmar Fernandes
19 hrs
|
Obrigado!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Luiz Fernando"
+3
27 mins
magnum opus
magnum opus
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Margarida Ataide
1 hr
|
Thanks it
|
|
agree |
Mario Freitas
:
1 hr
|
Thanks Mário
|
|
agree |
Oliver Simões
2 hrs
|
Thanks Oliveira
|
+2
1 hr
work of art
another suggestions
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Margarida Ataide
18 mins
|
Thanks, itineuropa
|
|
agree |
Lais Leite
22 hrs
|
Thanks, padua
|
+1
4 hrs
Discussion
....petit chef d’œuvre de simplicité....
why not maintain the French ... a small "chef d’œuvre" embodying simplicity, convenience and harmony- AS MASTERPIECE SEEMS A LITTLE TOO PRETENTIOUS (IMO)
Thank you very much for the excellent research. I feel a bit lazy now. Cheers, Scott
https://books.google.pt/books?id=FWNXru8iLgcC&pg=PA39&lpg=PA...