The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word OEUVRES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
O
E
U
V
R
E
S
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "works" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case works = oeuvres.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OEUVRES mean?
OEUVRES noun- A work of art.
- The complete body of an artist's work.