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About Reference Sources
If you're having a hard time getting ideas for your paper topic or you need to look up basic information about an artist or movement, try looking at one of the reference works listed below.
Dictionaries and encyclopedias provide concise, detailed, scholarly descriptions of artists, movements, specific works, and more. Use them for background information and to find effective search terms for online databases.
The works on this page are general in nature. For more specialized encyclopedias, reference works, and websites, see the following topic pages:
Online Reference Sources
The Oxford Companion to Western Art by Call Number: View Ebook Reference N33 .O923 2001Publication Date: 2001Covers all facets of Western art: artists, movements and styles, museums, etc. Descriptions are sometimes brief compared to the Grove Dictionary of Art and similar works, but it's all conveniently arranged in one volume.
Websites
- Art & Architecture Thesaurus OnlineA controlled vocabulary developed by the Getty Institute. Standardized lists of over 100,000 terms for art objects, architectural styles, and material culture. Includes information on the topics and words used to describe them. A bit complex, but a rewarding place to go for effective search terms in a subject area.
- Art History Resources on the WebPut together by a professor at Sweet Briar College starting in 1995, this page of links and information on art from all areas of the globe goes deep, from prehistoric times to the twentieth century. Check out the Renaissance Art in Italy, Renaissance Art Outside Italy and Baroque Art pages.
- 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).
- Mother of All Art, and Art History LinksA great online resource from the University of Michigan’s Museum of Art. Links to Art History departments, research resources, specialized online image collections, and even online exhibits.
Print Reference Sources
The Dictionary of Art by Call Number: Reference N31 D5 1996 v.1-34ISBN: 9781884446009Publication Date: 2003-02-11Boasting well over 6,000 contributors from 12 countries, the Dictionary offers its readers authoritative and comprehensive global coverage. A resource for both art and cultural studies, the Dictionary serves as a unique guide to all the visual arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, drawing, printmaking, as well as the decorative arts. The Dictionary ranges far both geographically and historically; it features unparalleled coverage of Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Mongolia, China, India, the Islamic world, Japan, Korea, Native North America, Pacific and Aboriginal Australia, Pre-Columbian America, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Ancient Near East, and Ancient Rome. Providing depth as well as breadth, The Dictionary of Art examines important art forms and key issues of design, taste, function, and patronage, illuminating them in light of the cultural context in which they developed.
Atlas of World Art by Call Number: Reference N5300 .O9 2004Useful for placing artists, works, or movements in their geographical and historical contexts. While there is less descriptive content here than other books in this list, there are large maps showing the movement of goods and ideas across regions, detailed maps of cities and architectural sites, and more.
-isms: Understanding Art by Call Number: Reference N5302 .L585 2004An easy-to-use guide to the often-confusing history of art movements like "Cubism" or "Impressionism". Each entry includes definitions, background information, key artists and works, and related topics.
Looking at Prints, Drawings, and Watercolours: A Guide to Technical Terms by Call Number: Reference N33 .G65 1988A handy little guide to art techniques and materials. Brief, easy-to-read descriptions are accompanied by image examples.
The Encyclopedia of Sculpture by Call Number: Reference NB198 .E53 2004 v.1-3An entire encyclopedia devoted to sculpture from all times and places. Detailed entries on sculptors and their works, styles, and more.
The World's Master Paintings: From the Early Renaissance to the Present Day: a Comprehensive Listing of Works by 1,300 Painters and a Complete Guide to Their Locations Worldwide by Call Number: Reference ND40 .W75 1992 v.1-2Come here to find out where world's most significant paintings are held. Organized by historical period and artist.
