epigone

n.
A second-rate imitator or follower, especially of an artist or a philosopher.

[French épigone, sing. of épigones, from Greek Epigonoi, sons of the seven heroes against Thebes, from pl. of epigonos, born after : epi-, epi- + gonos, child, seed.]

epigonic ep'i·gon'ic (-gŏn'ĭk) adj.
epigonism e·pig'on·ism (ĭ-pĭg'ə-nĭz'əm) n.

(EP-i-goan)

noun
A mediocre imitator or follower of an important artist, writer, etc.

Etymology
From French epigone, from Greek epigonoi (child), from epi- (after) + gonos, from root of gignesthai (to be born)

Usage
"Just as [Michael] Arad doesn't want to be pigeonholed as an 'Israeli architect,' he is loath to appear an epigone of Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C." — Michael Z. Wise; At Ground Zero, A Fresh Take; The Los Angeles Times; Mar 7, 2004.

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epigone [ep‐ig‐ohn] (plural ‐oni or ‐ones), an inferior or derivative follower of some more distinguished writer.

An acolyte or undistinguished follower of some teacher.

an inferior imitator of a creative thinker or artist; hence, epigonic