| Find Information About a Work of Art | Find Primary Sources Selected List of Primary Sources |
| Find Background Information About an Artist | Find a Definition or Translation & Foreign Language Dictionaries |
| Find background information on an art topic: Encyclopedias, Art History Surveys | Find Information About Hazards/Health in the Arts: Books, Databases, Internet |
Find information about a work of art
- Rarely are entire books written about an individual art piece, so searching the library catalog by the name of the art piece may not be the best strategy. Instead, use the artist name. If you find a book, look at the list of illustrations.
- You may also want to look at books that cover the specific time period, medium, culture, movement or subject related to the work of art.
Individual work of art can be covered in articles. Try Art Full Text, Grove Art Online, and JSTOR.
Find background information about an artist
When you search the catalog keep these points in mind:
- An artist can be listed as the subject and/or author, for example Picasso.
- Catalogues raisonné are complete catalogues of an artist's work, and are often available for well-known artists.
In the search box type [name of the artist] and catalogue raisonne. For ex: picasso and catalogue raisonne. - Information about contemporary, lesser-known and foreign artists can be found in exhibition catalogs (solo or group shows) and in articles. You may want to try WorldCat to locate a catalog or also the Contemporary Artist Index, a free web source that indexes the works of artists that appears in group exhibition catalogs.
Check out these resources:
Databases: Art Full Text, Grove Art Online, and JSTOR.
Dictionary of Artists by Benezit
This is a well known source for finding biographical information about painters, sculptors, designers and engravers. Covers the period 1911 to 1923. French and English versions. REF N40 .D5213 2006
Vasari's Lives of the Artists; Biographies of the Most Eminent Architects, Painters, and Sculptors of Italy
This is the primary source for biographical information about artists of the Italian Renaissance. This is also a primary source. GEN N6922 .V492, also online.
Who's Who in American Art
This is a biennial publication good for locating information on lesser-known artists and non-artists. REF/ GEN N6536 .W5
Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975
Same as above but for 1564-1975. REF N6536 .W565 1999
Who's Who in Art REF/GEN N40 .W6
Find background information on an art topic
Encyclopedias
In the catalog, select subject and then type:
Art Encyclopedias
ART Dictionaries
ARTISTS Dictionaries
The Dictionary of Art
Also called the Grove Dictionary. This premier art source provides comprehensive illustrated coverage of the history of all the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to the present. 34 vols. REF N31.D5 1996
Encyclopedia of World Art
Major historical coverage of the arts of all periods and countries. Black and white illustrations of art works. 17 vols. REF N31 .E5
Contemporary Artists REF N6490 .C6567 2002
The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Art and Artists REF N33 .T52 1994
Also check the Grove Art Online and the Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
Art history surveys
These books provide general background information in chronological order. Major time periods, genres, and artists are covered. Each author covers the subject in a different manner, emphasizing different areas. All of the illustrations in the following survey books can be found in ARTstor.
Gardner, Helen. Art Through the Ages GEN N5300 .G25
Hartt, Frederick. Art: a History of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture GEN N5300 .H283
Janson, H. W. History of Art GEN N5300 .J3
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History GEN N5300 .S923
Find primary sources
Primary sources are original materials that have not been altered in any way. They are firsthand accounts of an event, and generally do not include commentary, interpretation, or evaluation of the topic. For more information check the Using Primary & Secondary Sources page.
How do you find primary sources?
In the catalog, combine the terms of your topic with terms such as:
| archives | facsimiles | letters | personal narratives |
| correspondence | interviews | memoirs | registers |
| diaries | inventories | notebooks | sketchbooks |
Selected list of primary sources
Ovid's Metamorphoses
Several editions of this source are available. Type the title in the catalog search box. Some editions provide a list of images from classical mythology. Available also online.
Bible
This is the main source for Christian imagery. Several editions are available:
The New Scofield Reference Bible; Holy Bible, authorized King James version
REF BS185 1967 .N2, also online.
The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments: New Revised Standard Version
REF BS191.5.A1 1993 .N2, also online
The Holy Bible: New International Version, containing the Old Testament and the New Testament
GEN BS195 .N37 1996
Legenda aurea
Also known as The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine (Available at ASU and UNCA), also online.
This is a hagiographical encyclopedia (biographies of saints) and it was written in the mid-13th century. This book influenced the iconography of the 14th and 15th centuries.
Iconologia
English translation: Baroque and Rococo Pictorial Imagery. The 1758-60 Hertel edition of Ripa's 'Iconologia.'
The book, originally written in 1593, describes and prescribes ways to represent allegorical figures. This guide to the symbolism in emblem books serves as a primary source for how baroque symbolism was understood. GEN N7740 .R515 1971, also online.
Vasari's Lives
English translation: Vasari's Lives of the Artists; Biographies of the Most Eminent Architects, Painters, and Sculptors of Italy This is the primary source for biographical information about artists of the Italian Renaissance. GEN N6922 .V492, also online.
American Memory
Search or browse collections at the Library of Congress. Great collection of digitized images.
Smithsonian Institution Research Information System
Search the collections at the Smithsonian. The site also provides access to the Smithsonian American Art Museum inventories and pre-1877 art exhibition catalogues index.
Find a definition or translation
Browse the art collection in reference (N's call numbers) to find dictionaries, glossaries, etc.
Artwords: A Glossary of Contemporary Art Theory GEN N71 .P32 1997
Artspeak: A Guide to Contemporary Ideas, Movements, and Buzzwords, 1945 to the Present
Covers the who, when, where, and what of the major movements of the period. Ref/GEN N6490 .A87 1990
A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
Definitions are grouped in thematic entries. REF NA31 .C44 1995
Foreign language dictionaries
To find dictionaries in foreign languages, in the catalog search box type: [Language]– Dictionaries – English
Example: French language -- Dictionaries -- English
Find Information About Hazards/Health in the Arts
Books
The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide
All you need to know about art material and how to make your workplace safe. GEN RC963.6.A78 R67 1994
Health Hazards Manual for Artists. GEN RC963.6.A78 M324 1994
Genium's Handbook of Safety, Health, and Environmental Data for Common Hazardous Substances
Handbook of safety, health, and environmental data for common hazardous substances. 3 vols. REF T55.3.H3 G46 1999
Databases
PUBMED The National Library of Medicine database includes medical journal summaries on the latest medical research on occupational exposures and health relating to art techniques.
ScienceDirect (1995-present). Full text and indexing to a variety of journals in the science and social sciences.
Web of Science (1955-present). Wide coverage of topics. Indexes and citations.
Academic Search Premier (Index: 1984-, full-text: 1990-). Scholarly and popular journals.
Art & Creative Materials Institute - Safety
Site includes links or references to health and safety-related books and publications; brochures & organizations - many linked full-text from this site; and includes a directory of safe products.
Environmental Health and Safety Operations Guide
OHSU- Oregon Health & Science University
Information on health and safety in the arts.
OSHA- Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Comprehensive site on information about hazardous material and safety.
Protect Your Health with Proper Studio Ventilation
TOXNET
National Library of Medicine. Cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas.
Waste Management for Artists and Schools
By Angela Babin, M.S. and Michael McCann, Ph.D., C.I.H. Center for Safety in the Arts, 1992. Article about transportation of hazardous material, information on safe storage and handling of chemicals, laws & regulations etc.