Art History research and resources

 

Creator	Jan Vermeer
Title	The Milkmaid
Date	1658-1660
Material	oil on canvas
Measurements	45.5 x 41 cm
Repository	Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Above information retrieved from the ARTstor image database.

 

Researching a Topic

How to write an academic paper. Excellent introduction to researching and writing an academic paper. Created by Dartmouth College library.

 

Background information

• Oxford Art Online  The online version of the Dictionary of Art. Excellent source
• The Dictionary of Art. 34 vols. Edited by Jane Turner. REF N31.D5 1996
• Encyclopedia of World Art. 17 vols. REF N31 .E56 v. 1-17

• Many other specialized art reference books are in the REF N section on the main floor. You can find biographical information; descriptions of art techniques; guides to locate art works, etc.

Assembling Key Words

Before you start your research, you need to gather key words for your topic. A good place to collect key words is by reading entried in the Oxford Art Online, and other art reference books available at the library.

If yor topic is Vermeer's The Milkmaid, here are some possibilities:

• genre painting
• Dutch Art
• Vermeer
• Milkmaid
• 17th century
• Netherlands

 

Books

• Annie
• WorldCat

 

Scholarly Articles

• Art Index Retrospective (1929-1984)
• Art Full Text (1984-present)
• Bibliography of the History of Art (no Asian art indexed)

 

Images

• ARTstor
• Oxford Art Online
• Visual Resource Center at Washington and Lee

 

Citation Style

You will be using the Chicago style for writing papers, endnotes, and bibliographies for art, and for most of your humanities courses. Examples below are from Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference. (http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc).

Avoiding plagiarism. 

Individual Help

You may set up a research appointment with Professor Merrill. Just fill out the form.