How to research a work of Art

DO FIRST

See the original artwork, if at all possible – view/examine it carefully

Take notes on your observation.  This may regard subject matter, materials and techniques, physical condition, form and style (elements [line, shape, contrast, color] and their organization [composition, balance, rhythm, proportion, unity])

If the work is in a public collection, read and copy its identification from the wall label, including accession number

Buy reproduction (postcard) in the museum shop if possible

QC ART LIBRARY’S WEBSITE http://www.qc.edu/Library/art/artlib.html

CUNY+

Best: search by keyword in all fields - e.g. “[artist’s first name] and [last name]”

If the artwork is famous, you may include word(s) from its title - e.g., “manet and olympia”

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

Art Index (FirstSearch) - Citations from international English-language arts publications, periodicals, etc.  1984-

Art Index Full Text (Wilson Web) - Indexes and abstracts articles from journals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins in English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Swedish. Indexing 1984-Current; abstracting 1994-Current. Some full-text coverage begins in 1997.  1984-

Art Index Retrospective (Wilson Web) - Covers English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Dutch periodicals in art, architecture, design, photography, etc.  1929-1984

ARTbibliographies Modern (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) - Abstracts English and foreign-language journal articles, books, essays, exhibition catalogs, PhD dissertations, and exhibition reviews on all forms of modern and contemporary art.  1974-

Arts and Humanities Search (FirstSearch) - Tracks citations in 1300 sources.  1980-

Bibliography of the History of Art [BHA] (RLG) - European art since Antiquity, American art since the European discoveries. Continues RAA and RILA.  1991-

Dictionary of Art Online (Oxford University Press) - Includes entire text of The Dictionary of Art (1996, 34 vols.), with constant additions of new material and updates, plus 40,000+ links to art images.  1998-

IN ART LIBRARY

Art Reference collection: dictionaries, encyclopedias, museum collection catalogs (with accession number, can often search in museum’s published acquisition records)

Indexes/Abstracts (on Index table): to identify articles, exhibition catalogs, books, dissertations, reviews

Design & Applied Arts Index 1987-

RAA (Repertoire d'Art et d’Archéologie) 1973-1989

RILA (International Repertory of the Literature of Art) 1975-1989

Circulating collection: includes monographs on artists, catalogs, contextual material

Pamphlet collection: includes many exhibition catalogs; organized by Subject and Artist name (e.g., Art Deco; Rubens; Textiles; Warhol)

VISUALS

Art Library’s materials:

Picture Collection: organized by Medium (e.g., Painting)—Country (e.g., United States)—Century (e.g., 20^th century)

To locate an artist, look in the wooden drawers on top of cabinet under the artist’s last name

Slide Collection: organized similarly as Pictures

Ask for assistance at Art service desk to allow access

Published indexes to art reproductions (in Art Reference)

Museum catalogs (in Art Reference and circulating collections)

Artist monographs and catalogs (in Art circulating collection)

Online collections and indexes (most are searchable by artist):

QC Art Library’s website>Electronic Resources>Art Research Resources: Images http://www.qc.edu/qclibrary/art/artresearch.html#Art%20Research-Images

                        and other QC Art Library Internet guides to recommended web sites

CUNY Graduate Center Library/Subject Guides/Subject Collections>Arts & HumanitiesumanitiesHu>Art History>Images  http://library.gc.cuny.edu/RESEARCH/art.asp#Images

The NYPL Mid-Manhattan Library’s Picture Collection Online
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/
http://digital.nypl.org/mmpco/ (by subject)

Search engines (e.g., Google >Images, AltaVista>Images)

Additional materials for background and contextual information, if desired

Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance at the Art Service Desk