petit maître

noun2

1. •
   A lesser master of something, especially of some artistic skill; a minor talent.

   • The point of this survey is to present Calder as a giant of modernism instead of a petit-maître of whimsical toys. — 2015
2. •
   (no longer used) A fop or dandy.

   • The unfortunate petit maitre, driven to the extremity of his condescension, acknowledged it to be a masterly refinement […]. — 1751