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The Chicago style is the most commonly used format for Art History research.

Click here for examples of how to cite works of art in Chicago style.

There are a lot of places where you can find images to help with your research. Try ARTstor first, but you can also look at some of the Web Resources listed at the bottom of each page.  Some include image collections.

ARTstor

The place to start when looking for images. Over a million quality images collected from museums, scholars, libraries, and artists. Advanced tools for viewing and organizing images. Check out the Help Topics (including pages on printing and downloading images) and 3-minute tutorial videos on YouTube to help get you started.

Google Image Search

You can find countless images here, but use with caution. The size and quality of the images vary widely. Descriptions may be short, nonexistent, or even downright wrong. The images you find may be under copyright, so their use would be limited.

The databases listed here all have significant Art and Art History components, making them good places to begin looking for articles for your research project.

Note: Images that appear fine in print may not look very good when scanned for electronic versions of articles, or they may not even be included at all. You can check to see if we have a print copy on hand by doing a Journal Title Search.

We've got a large collection of art books in our catalog. You can search for artists' names, movements, regional divisions, mediums, etc. For example:

• Picasso
• Impressionism
• French Art
• Pencil Drawing

Sometimes you just want to browse the collection. Look for Art books on the Link Level in two different places: the regular Ns towards the back and the Oversize section near the computers. Here's a basic breakdown of the call numbers that are used to organize art books. (You can find a more detailed breakdown here.)

You may also want to consult 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. Look for these books in the reference section, on the first level of the library by the Research Desk.

Grove Dictionary of Art

Call Number: Reference N31 D5 1996 v.1-34

The most respected, authoritative encyclopedia of art around. It includes detailed entries on all topics, plus bibliographies for further research. Check the index volume, since your topic may be found under a broader subject.

Art Index

Call Number: Reference NX 1 A77 1929-1998

These print volumes index articles in international art journals and magazines from 1929-1998. Ask a librarian to show you how the index works. For a current online version, Art Full Text, walk over to Wilson Library at the U of M.

Atlas of World Art - edited by John Onians

Call Number: Reference N5300 .O9 2004

Useful 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.

The Oxford Companion to Western Art - edited by Hugh Brigstocke

Call Number: Reference N33 .O923 2001

Covers 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.

Encyclopedia of World Art

Call Number: Reference N31 E533 v.1-17

Not the easiest book to use, but it can be a valuable source. Very lengthy and informative articles. Sheer quantity of detail makes up for many shortcomings: poor subdivision, images are separated from text, and confusing bibliographies. Be sure to check the index volume, since your topic may be found under a broader subject.

-isms: Understanding Art - Stephen Little

Call Number: Reference N5302 .L585 2004

An 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 - Paul Goldman

Call Number: Reference N33 .G65 1988

A handy little guide to art techniques and materials. Brief, easy-to-read descriptions are accompanied by image examples.

The Encyclopedia of Sculpture - Antonia Boström, editor

Call Number: Reference NB198 .E53 2004 v.1-3

An 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 - compiled by Christopher Wright

Call Number: Reference ND40 .W75 1992 v.1-2

Come here to find out where world's most significant paintings are held. Organized by historical period and artist.

Works of Art in a Museum

Artists's last name, first name. Title of the Work. Place where found, location of place where found, composition year.

Klimt, Gustav. The Kiss. Oesterreichische Galerie im Belvedere, Vienna, Austria, 1907.

Photographs of Works of Art (i.e., from a book)

Artists's last name, first name. Title of the Work. Place where found, location of place where found, in Author's first and last name, Title of Book in which photograph appears. Place of publication: publisher, year, page number.

Degas, Edgar. Woman With Binoculars. Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, in Barbara Ehrlich White, Impressionists Side by Side: Their Friendships, Rivalries, and Artistic Exchanges. New York: Knopf, 1996, 192.

Images Found Online

Artists's last name, first name. Title of the Work. Place where found, location of place where found, composition year. Web address (access date).

Klimt, Gustav. The Kiss. Oesterreichische Galerie im Belvedere, Vienna, Austria, 1907. Http://www.artstor.org/ (accessed September 9, 2009).

Created by Matt Voss in Fall 2009