Medieval Art Resources
Information on Medieval Art can be found in many places in the library, such as art books or history texts that discuss art and artists.
To find resources on Medieval Art,
- Use a General Search of our collection for books, articles, videos, and more.
- Or try a specialized journal database to find scholarly articles.
Here are some examples of basic search terms you can use to start out:
- medieval art
- Illumination of books and manuscripts
- Byzantine icons
- Gothic architecture
Find more information in the reference works and website links on this page.
- Hein Online This link opens in a new windowThis specialized database focuses on legal documents, cases, law reviews, and historical documents — all of which can be a surprising source of information about medieval artworks. Try searching medieval art, byzantine art, and other terms to find documents and legal articles about individual artworks and exhibitions.
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowThis robust database's ad-free streaming videos include many about art and artists, including medieval art. We recommend browsing the "Art & Architecture" section, where you'll see "Applied Art," "Art History," and more. Films include Art and Life in the Middle Ages: The Luttrell Psalter.
Websites
- Glossary for Medieval Art and ArchitectureFrom the University of Pittsburgh, this is a handy list of obscure terminology from the Medieval period. Look here for definitions of "archivolts," "voussoir," and "mandorla."
- Mother of All Art & Art History Links: Medieval Western SourcesLinks to several sites useful for the study of Medieval Art. Part of a great site from the University of Michigan's Museum of Art.
- Art History Resources on the Web: Early Medieval ArtLinks and information on many specific topics, from arms and armor to southern French paintings of objects of daily life.
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art HistoryFrom the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this is a useful tool for investigating a particular period or fitting a style into its broader historical context. Includes: interactive world maps and timelines; examples of works of art by time period, region, and theme; and thematic essays, such as one on medieval aquamanilia (animal- or human-shaped water vessels).
- Art Links at Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval StudiesLinks to a number of useful art history resources on the web, from Danish chalk church frescoes to Romanesque art in Spain. Based in Georgetown University.
Print Reference Sources
Art Index by Call Number: Reference NX 1 A77 1929-1998These print volumes index articles in international art journals and magazines from 1929 to 1998. Ask a librarian to show you how the index works. You can find a more up-to-date online version in the Art Full Text database.
Encyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Medieval World by Call Number: Reference CB351 .E53 2008 vols. 1-4A good starting point. Entries on Art and Architecture provide easy and informative backgrounds. Suggestions for further reading are at the end of each entry.
Arts and Humanities through the ErasCall Number: Reference NX440 A787 2005, vols. 1-5An excellent resource (also available online) that helps you connect your art topic with the wider context of history. You'll find chronological overviews, discussions of specific topics, biographies of notable people, primary sources, and more. Look to chapter 9 of each volume for “Visual Arts.”
The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture by Call Number: Reference N6260 .G75 2009Deals with all aspects of Islamic art and architecture ranging from the Middle East to Africa to Central, South, and East Asia. Includes entries on artists, rulers, writers, ceramics, sculpture, metalwork, painting, calligraphy, textiles, and more.
Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia by Call Number: Reference Q124.97 .M43 2005Though not about art specifically, this can be a good place for information on materials and mediums. Look for discussions on "illumination", "pigments, paints, and dyes", and "glassmaking", for example.
Dictionary of Women Artists by Call Number: Reference N8354 P54 1994 vols. 1-2Includes a survey on "Women Artists in the Middle Ages."
Dictionary of the Middle AgesCall Number: LC Circulating Oversize D114 D5 1982 vols. 1-9It looks a bit old and imposing, but you'll find great entries on just about any topic in Medieval research, including art. Look under specific styles ("Gothic," "Romanesque"), or specific topics such as "Armenian Art."
Larousse Encyclopedia of Byzantine & Medieval ArtCall Number: Reference N5970 H813Contains a wealth of information not only on Byzantine and Medieval art, but on Islamic, Indian, and other world art as well. You'll find a large number of images and maps that support the text.
