Beginners in the arts seldom know Seurat's works (5)
I believe the answer is:
tasks
'works' is the definition.
(task is a kind of work)
'beginners in the arts seldom know seurat's' is the wordplay.
'beginners in' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'the arts seldom know seurat' is 'TASKS'.
(Other definitions for tasks that I've seen before include "Missions" , "Chores, jobs" , "'Jobs, undertakings (5)'" , "Jobs to be done" , "charges" .)