Databases

 

Art Full Text

 

This database covers over 475 journals (150 of which are full text) with articles in various areas of art from around the world. Some of the art subjects that are covered include: architecture, art history, graphic arts, painting, photography, pottery, sculpture, decorative arts, fashion, interior design, industrial design, video and more. Coverage begins in 1984 with full text coverage starting in 1997. A full description of the database is available here.

 

Please note: Before you begin your search you must select OmniFile Full Text Mega at the top and then  select Art from the Subject Area drop-down menu below.

 

 

 

Websites

CARLI Digital Collections collections.carli.illinois.edu	This site offers access to multiple digital collections offering thousands of digital art images in different areas including: Painting, sculpture, architecture and pottery Photojournalism and historical photographs Student artwork and student masters' theses, and more.   The advanced search allows you to search specific collections, or to search all collections. You can also set your preferences on how you want the search results to be displayed, on how you view your Favorites section, and more. There’s also a Help section that includes useful information on browsing, searching, viewing results, changing preferences, using the My Favorites section, and more.  Provides the ability to search multiple collections; additional information on each collection is provided.
Timeline of Art History - Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org	As the name implies, this is a great source for all art history topics from around the world; the information can be explored through timelines, world maps, and different art themes - all of which are illustrated with artifacts and art works from collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 6,000 works of art that are found on this site have detailed descriptions and their views can be enlarged. The timelines and world maps provide a visual overview which can be focused in on specific periods of time and areas of the world. There are also thematic essays on a variety of art history topics as well as a number of useful links to other areas of the Metropolitan Museum’s site, including:    Works of Art  Explore and Learn  Online Educational Resources  Special Exhibitions
The Library of Congress - American Memory Collection memory.loc.gov	This site is the most unique on this list, because of the variety of digital information it provides, including: prints, maps, still and moving images, written and spoken words, sound recordings, and sheet music -- all documenting the “American experience.” This site is useful for finding facts and historical information on people, places, events, and ideas, culture, and creativity of our country. This digitized collection holds more than 9 million items arranged in more than 100 thematic areas, and although the numbers seem overwhelming, the site is well organized, and easy to search and browse. You can find information by searching a specific time period, a geographical area, a particular topic, a collection, and even by a specific item (such as a photo, print, book, map, etc.)
NYPL Digital Gallery digitalgallery.nypl.org	This site offers access to over 550,000 digital images from the New York Public Library collection. It includes rare prints and photographs, vintage posters, illustrated books, historical maps, printed ephemera, and more. This user friendly site provides advanced search options and browsing by names (of artists, authors, publishers, collectors, etc.), subject terms (including people, institutions, places, etc.), and by the contributing libraries. There’s also a helpful User’s Guide, as well as Tips for Searching and Browsing.
Modern and Contemporary Artists and Art the-artists.org	The Artists.org is a database of 20th Century and contemporary visual artists that is useful for research in the area of visual art; you can search by: artists, art movements, art gallery, art auction, art books, art research, art news, and more. The artist information includes a portrait of the artist, limited biographical information, and useful links to more comprehensive information about the artists and for further research. The information on art movements provides definitions, the artists that were involved in the movement, as well as links to other sources on the web.
ArtLex - Art Dictionary artlex.com	This online art dictionary is simple, easy to use and comprehensive including over 3,600 art terms along with thousands of illustrations, pronunciations and lots of cross references. The home page includes tips on searching the site, on looking for names of artists, and information on how to make citations from the site. Besides definitions of terms, ArtLex also includes some in-depth articles on a variety of art topics, all of which can be found on the left hand side of, right below the index. Terms can be search through an index or through the search engine provided by Google.
ArtSource - Art Resources on the Web ilpi.com/artsource	ArtSource provides annotated links to select art and architecture resources on the web. The main page contains the table of contents, which lists the different categories, including: image collections, organizations, art and architecture programs, museum information, and much more. The site is very simple and each link has a brief description of what the web resource is all about.
ArtCyclopedia - the Guide to Great Art on the Internet artcyclopedia.com	This site is very similar to ArtSource because it provides links to Internet resources, however ArtCyclopedia focuses on Artists and Art Movements. This site is also much more comprehensive including over 100,000 links to art resources that are available on the web. The main page allows you to browse the site and search by artist name, title of an artwork, or art museum.

 

 

 

Print Resources (Reference Materials)

 

 

 

 

The Thames & Hudson dictionary of art terms/ Edward Lucie-Smith

Reference N33.L75 2004

 

A current and comprehensive reference book that includes over 2,000 entries of common art terms used in the areas of painting, sculpture, architecture, graphic arts, photography, and more. The dictionary covers both Western and non-Western art terms and includes cross references. This source also incorporates 400 black and white illustrations and diagrams that are able to provide information beyond words.

 

 

 

 

Benezit Dictionary of Artists / Gründ 

Reference N40.D5213 2006

 

This 14 volume work is very comprehensive, including 175,000 concise and up to date entries. A great research sources for art history students as well as art historians, this work contains biographical information, museum holdings, auction prices, and bibliographies.

 

 

 

Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture / James Stevens Curl

Reference NA31.C864 2006

This dictionary covers Western architectural history from ancient times until today and contains over 5,000 entries with many illustrations, diagrams, and cross references. The entries are concise and include biographies of architects, definitions of architectural and landscape terms, bibliographies, and more.

 

 

 

The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts / Gordon Campbell Ed.

Reference NK28.G76 2006

This source is truly one of a kind; it is scholarly, reputable, and includes unique information that would be hard to find in one place. The two volumes are comprehensive with a total of 3,000 entries and 600 illustrations. The focus of this source is on Western Europe and mostly museum objects, rather than folk art and other popular decorative arts. The bibliographies are particularly useful for further research, pointing out books, articles, local and foreign language publications, and sources that are not easy to find.

 

 

 

The Photography Encyclopedia / Gloria McDarrah, et al.

Reference TR9 .M39 1999

This comprehensive encyclopedia covers all aspects of photography, including biographical information on photographers, important curators, collectors, critics, inventors and others with a direct relationship to photography. There is also a helpful timeline as well as additional information on galleries, museums, books, manufacturers, magazines and much more. The source is well illustrated, with close to 100 pictures of photographers and hundreds of other black and white photographs.

 

 

 

The Ancient Americans: a reference guide to art, culture, and history of pre-Columbian North and South America / Juan Schobinger

Reference E59.P42 S3613 2001

Although this two volume work covers much more than art, it is a great source for research in the area of Ancient Art. As the book review from Choice points out, the additional data are “critical for an understanding of the role of rock art left by the various cultures over the millennia.” The source is abundantly illustrated with full-color plated of North American rock art and the introduction provides a history of cave art research.

 

 

 

Lives of the Great 20th-Century Artists / Edward Lucie-Smith

Reference N6489 .L83 1999

 

This is a great source for quick, but informative information on 100 artists from every essential movement, including: modernism, expressionism, cubism, dada, surrealism, pop art and much more. The biographical essays are relatively short in length and are accompanied by interesting photographs of the artists and examples of their work. The work is divided into 24 sections which provide information on the specific art movement and the artists that influenced it.

 

 

 

Dictionary of Film Terms: the aesthetic companion to film art / Frank Eugene Beaver

Reference PN1993.45 .B33 2006

 

This illustrated dictionary focuses on defining terms, concepts, techniques, and genres required in the study of film analysis, appreciation and production. The work covers both the technical and the aesthetic terms and includes extensive cross references throughout. The book is very well organized, easy to use, and includes four helpful indexes.

 

 

 

 

Print Resources - Circulating Materials

 

 

 

Art Market Research: a guide to methods and sources/ Tom McNulty

Main Stacks N5200.M39 2006

 

 

The guide includes information on resources and research methods in the areas of fine and decorative arts. Information on the current art market, artwork analysis, art documentation, online tools and databases, and some unique sources of information in the art areas that are available.

 

 

 

The Design Encyclopedia / Mel Byars

Main Stacks NK 1370B93 2004

 

The Design Encyclopedia is a collaboration effort of the Museum of Modern Art Design curatorial and editorial staff. It provides a comprehensive overview of the history of design covering the last 130 years. The source focuses on functional design, and includes industrial design, automobile design, furniture design, lighting design, and much more. The 3,600 entries include cross references, illustrations, and information on designers, design studios, manufacturers, materials, historical periods and styles, among others.

 

 

 

World Graphic Design / Geoffrey Caban

Main Stacks NC997.A5C33 2004

World Graphic Design is divided into four main regions: Africa, the Far East, Latin America and the Middle East and is further subdivided into countries and graphic designers from those regions. The source examines contemporary graphic designs and designers and is includes many illustrations. This is a rare source, since it focuses on areas of the world that are not covered in other books on international graphic design.

 

 

 

The Complete Printmaker / John Ross

Main Stacks NE850 .R59

 

 

This classic book on Printmaking explores the history and techniques of more than 45 printmaking methods, including lithography, intaglio, screen printing, relief and more. It provides information on printmaking tools and materials, and the step-by-step printmaking processes are described in adequate detail and supplemented by illustrations (in both color and black and white). This book is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date guides in the area of printmaking.

 

 

 

Exploring Typography / Tova Rabinowitz

Main Stacks Z246 .R33 2006

This unique source focuses on typography and covers the history of printing, communication theory, how type is used and designed, and much more. The author examines the principles of typography and throughout the book includes lots of helpful terminology and concepts that are related to typography. The source is also filled with helpful illustration and many examples and includes a thorough bibliography for further research.

 

 

 

Master drawings from the Yale University Art Gallery / Suzanne Boorsch et al.

Main Stacks NC225 .Y35 2006

 

This scholarly publication provides a well written overview of the history of drawing along with the Yale University Art Gallery collection of old master drawings, which are pre-impressionist. Each work represented includes detailed information about the materials used, size and inscriptions, as well as references for further research and information on prior collections. This is a good source for research on drawing, offering exceptional insight into the technical and critical aspects of drawing.

 

December 2007

 

 

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