Art History

American Art Research  Guide
American  Studies Research Guide
American Architecture Research Guide
Archaeology Research Guide
Architecture Research Guide

African Art/Archaeology Research Guide
Asian Art/Archaeology Research Guide
Auction Sales
Boston and Its Neighborhoods
Bibliographies
Biographical Sources

Boston University Programs
Cultural Property
Dictionaries
Directories
Electronic Journals

Encyclopedias

Exhibition Catalogs

Guides
Historic Preservation Research Guide
Images Research Guide
Indexes to Articles/Dissertations
Microform Collections
Museums and Museum Studies

Photography Research Guide
Sources and Documents
Symbols, Subjects, Iconography

Timelines
Twentieth-Century Art Research Guide
Typography
Web Sites

Galatea/Cyclops, Rom wall painting, Met. Museum NY Polyphemus, Galatea, Acis, The Hague: Koninklijke Bibliotheek 74 G 27 55r    Galatea and Polyphemus, Moreau, paintingPolyphemus, Poussin, Hermitage

 

  Click on images for sources.

WEB SITES

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Electronic Resources by Subject: Art and Architecture
Links to both BU online subscriptions and "free" web sites of interest to researchers in art history. 

Art History Resources on the Web
Christopher Witcombe, Professor of Art History, Sweet Briar College. The most comprehensive directory of art and art history resources on the Web. Broad categories are: prehistoric art, ancient art, art of the middle ages, renaissance art, baroque, 18th-century art, 19th-century art, 20th-century art, non-European art, research resources, museums & galleries, and prints & photography.

Art on the Web
Jeffery Howe, Boston College. Well-indexed site. Links include "Calendars of Events" for Boston, New York, the United States, and the world.

Artcyclopedia
John Malyon, Artcyclopedia, Inc. Comprehensive index to over 7,000 artists and links to approximately 80,000 works, primarily painting and sculpture.

ArtDaily
Today's and last week's news.

artnet.com
Magazine featuring art news from New York.

Arts Journal: The Daily Digest of Arts & Cultural Journalism

ArtServ
(Michael Greenhalgh, The Australian National University)

CAA Reviews
College Art Association. Peer reviews of new books. Also reviews of international exhibitions, academic conferences, and electronic media. Full reviews available to members only.

Fine Arts Division: Web Resources
University of British Columbia. Canadian emphasis.

Mother of All Art History Links Pages
Patrick Young and graduate students, University of Michigan, Department of Art History. Links grouped under the headings, "A Sampling of Art History Departments, Research Resources, Resources for Visual Collections, Image Collections and Online Art, A Sampling of Online Exhibits, Sites of the Sacred, Art Museums, Textual and Linguistic Resources." Includes related subjects such as travel, history, philosophy, libraries, and electronic books.

Thinking Critically About World Wide Web Resources
Esther Grassian, University of California, Los Angeles, College Library. Lists questions to ask when evaluating a Web site. Categories include content and evaluation, source and date, and structure.

Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research
Alan Liu, University of California, Santa Barbara. Multidisciplinary, comprehensive site. Art & Art History.

ELECTRONIC JOURNALS

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Boston University Libraries--Electronic Journals
An alphabetical list of journal titles and journal collections such as JSTOR available on the Web to Boston University (BU) students, faculty, and staff.

Lexis-Nexis Universe   BU
Academic Universe is a database of current (generally from the mid-1980's on) international newspapers and magazines that can be searched for art news in general, exhibition announcements and critiques, interviews with artists and people in the art world, book reviews, auctions, museums, and obituaries. Congressional Universe tracks legislation such as copyright and National Endowment for the Arts funding. Statistical Universe contains government and private reports that may include statistics pertaining to the arts and artists.

JSTOR  BU
JSTOR (Journal Storage) is in the process of becoming "a comprehensive archive of important scholarly journal literature." Complete runs of individual journals are available up to approximately the last five years in the following areas: African American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Ecology, Economics, Education, Finance, History, Literature, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Population Studies, Sociology, Statistics. JSTOR provides keyword searching of any number of journals simultaneously. Individual journal titles may also be accessed through the online catalog.

Open Access Electronic Journals 
These journals may be accessed for free on the Web.  Listed here are peer-reviewed titles published by universities and academic associations.   To find additional open access titles, use Ulrich's Periodical Directory, advanced search, and check off "open access.
"

Crossings: Electronic Journal of Art and Technology
University of Dublin.

Estetica: revista de arte y estetica contemporanea
Universidad de los Andes, Merida, Venezuela

International Journal of Education and the Arts
Arizona State University

Museum and Society
University of Leicester, Department of Museum Studies

Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide: A Journal of Nineteenth-Century Visual Culture
Association of Historians of Nineteenth-Century Art (AHNCA), University of Maryland.

Project Muse Journals  BU
Over 40 scholarly full-text journals covering humanities and social sciences, including American Imago, 1995--; American Quarterly, 1996--; Callaloo, 1995--; Leonardo, 2001-, Modernism/Modernity, 1995--; and Postmodern Culture, 1990--. Searchable collectively or singly. Individual journal titles may also be accessed through the online catalog.

 

BOSTON UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

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Boston University American and New England Studies Program
Faculty, program, courses, and resources.

Boston University Department of Art History and Museum Studies
Faculty, courses, programs, resources, grants, Art Gallery, department news, and events.
Cumulus Image Database. BU

Boston University College of Fine Arts: School of Visual Arts
Faculty; programs: studio training, drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, design, and art education; resources; news and events.

GUIDES

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Art History: Its Use and Abuse, by W. McAllister Johnson. Critical surveys and bibliographies of major sources (e.g., encyclopedias, catalogs, histories, literature), published from 1500 through the 19th century. Intended for researchers, scholars, and doctoral students.
Mugar Reference X N 380 J64 1988

Art Information and the Internet: How to Find It, How to Use It, by Lois Swan Jones. In spite of its title, this book is a guide to doing research in art history using both Web and printed resources. It provides the only comprehensive coverage in English of research methodology with extensive, annotated bibliographical entries. The earlier edition, Art Information: Research Methods and Resources, includes much information on print sources that is still valuable and its format is easier to use ( Mugar Reference X N 85 J64 1990).
Mugar Reference X N 59 J66 1999

CAA Publications: Submission and Style Guidelines
http://www.collegeart.org/caa/publications/AB/ABStyleGuide.html

Citing Electronic Sources
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/start/cite/index.html

Learning Page, American Memory, Library of Congress. Suggested citations with examples for various media. Includes list of Web sites providing additional citation guidelines.

Guide to the Literature of Art History, by Etta Arntzen and Robert Rainwater. Comprehensive coverage for all periods, media, and geographic locations of books published between 1957 and 1977, including reprints of earlier works. It is divided into four main categories: general reference sources, materials for the study of art history, material on the various media, and serials. Many foreign-language titles are included. Referenced by out-of-print dealers as Arntzen/Rainwater.
Mugar Reference X Z 5931 A67 1980
 

International Handbook of Research in Arts Education, ed. L. Bresler. " The Handbook is organized into 13 sections, each centering on a major area or issue in arts education research. These areas include: History of arts education, curriculum, evaluation, cultural centers, appreciation, composition, informal learning, child culture, creativity, the body, spirituality, and technology. The individual chapters address cross-cultural research related to the central theme of the section from the perspectives of the particular arts discipline. Interludes provide reflective thoughts on the theme."

Mugar Reference X NX 282 I56 2007 pt. 1 and pt. 2

 

Short Guide to Writing About Art, by Sylvan Barnet, 7th ed. Covers all aspects of essay writing from ideas, analyses, and comparisons to style, manuscript form, and research. Of particular interest are the chapters on critical approaches such as the new art history, and gender, biographical, and psychoanalytic studies. A chapter by Leila Kinney deals with art research on the Internet including a section on how to reference Web pages.
Mugar Reference X N 7476 B37 2003

DICTIONARIES

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ArtLex: Visual Arts Dictionary
Definitions of over 3,300 terms and longer articles on subjects such as major movements and periods. Artists and titles of works appear within articles but are not listed as separate terms in the index. Appendices include instructions for searching and citing ArtLex, pronunciation, and links to other resources.
http://www.artlex.com
Artist Names from A to Z (About.com)
some entries include"how to pronounce."

Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques,

by Ralph Mayer, 5th ed. Excludes architecture. Illustrations.
Mugar Reference X N 33 M36 1991

Dictionary of Translated Names and Titles,
by Adrian Roon. French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian from "Aachen" to "Utopia."
Mugar Reference N X 80 R66 1986

From Abacus to Zeus: A Handbook of Art History,
by James Pierce, rev. 5th ed. Terms, processes, symbols, and subjects defined and keyed to illustrations in Horst Janson's History of Art (Mugar Reference X N 5300 J3 1997).
Mugar Reference X N 33 P5 1998

German-English Dictionary: Art History - Archaeology,
by Mary Apelt.
Mugar Reference X N 33 A5575 1982

Materials and Techniques in the Decorative Arts: An Illustrated Dictionary,
              ed. Lucy Trench.
Mugar Reference X NK30 .M38 2000  

Multilingual Glossary for Art Librarians,
by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), Section for Art Libraries. "English with Indexes in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish, 2nd revised and enlarged edition 1996." Definitions and translations of bibliographer, archivist, antiquarian, curator, and librarian terminology relating to art.
http://www.ifla.org/VII/s30/pub/mg1.htm

Pronunciation Dictionary of Artists' Names,
by Debra Edelstein, 3rd rev. ed. Art Institute of Chicago. Western European, North and South American, and Australian artists representing all periods.
Mugar Reference X N 40 K3 1993

ENCYCLOPEDIAS

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Enciclopedia dell'arte Antica, Classica e Orientale,
ed. Ranuccio Bandinelli, 7 vols plus supplements and index. Covers art and archaeology of Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Ethiopia from prehistory to 500 AD. Entries include bibliographies and many photographs.
Mugar Reference X N 31 F58

Enciclopedia dell'arte Medievale,
ed. Marina Righetti Tosti-Croce, 9 vols. Illustrated encyclopedia of art produced in the West, Near and Far East, and Mediterranean Africa from the 6th century to the end of the 14th century. Extensive bibliographical material.
Mugar Reference X N 5965 E52

Encyclopedia of Interior Design,
ed. Joanna Banham, 2 vols. Covers the history of interior design with entries on individuals and topics and longer survey articles about individual countries, periods, and styles. Entries include signed critical essays, brief biographies, list of principal works, and list of further reading. Emphasis on 19th and 20th centuries in Europe and North America with survey entries on the Middle East, Japan, China, and Australia. Ecclesiastical interiors are excluded.
Mugar Reference X NK 1165 E48 1997

Encyclopedia of Sculpture Techniques,
by John Mills. Definitions of methods and techniques with many photographs and drawings.
Mugar Reference X NB 1170 M528 1989

Encyclopedia of World Art,
17 vols. Published between 1959 and 1987. Provides overviews of art subjects representing all media and from throughout the world. Includes historical, conceptual, and geographical articles. Well-illustrated.
Mugar Reference X N 31 F59

Grove Art Online
ed. Jane Turner. Covers the prehistorical era to the 1990's with online updates. Includes over 20,000 biographies of artists, collectors, theorists, critics, and scholars. Features extensive survey articles on the cultures and civilizations of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia. The print version of 34 volumes is available at Mugar Reference X N 31 D5 1996. The online dictionary features links to images in external websites, interesting sites, The Art Newspaper, and to the Bridgeman Art Library, which is a comprehensive collection of more than 100,000 images.
http://www.groveart.com/

International Dictionary of Art and Artists,
ed. James Vinson. Vol. 1 covers the careers, locations of works, bibliographies by and about, and short essays of 500 major artists working from the 13th to the 20th centuries. Vol. 2 provides descriptions of 500 major works of art with illustrations and bibliographies.
Mugar Reference X N 7425 I67 1990

Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture,
by Peter Murray. Dictionary of all aspects of Christianity in art.
Mugar Reference X N 7830 M87 1996

Oxford Dictionary of Art,
eds. Ian Chilvers and Harold Osborne, 3rd ed. Western art forms and artists from antiquity to the present. Excludes architecture.
Mugar Reference X N 33 O93 2004

Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium,
ed. Alexander Kazhdan, 3 vols. Covers the period from the 4th century to the 15th century and includes all regions that were part of the Byzantine Empire or had significant connections with it. Entries combine perspectives from history, philology, art, and liturgy and include topics of everyday life. Bibliographies provided.
Mugar Reference X DF 521 O93 1991

Storia dell'arte Italiana,
by Adolfo Venturi, 190l-1940, reprinted 1967, 25 vols. History of Italian art from the early Christian period through the 16th century. Separately published indexes of locations and artists by Jacqueline Sisson (in English, Mugar Reference X N 6911 F01 Supplement Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) and by Fabrizia Rossetti (in Italian, Mugar Reference X N 6911 F01 Index ). Both indexes provide references by figure number to works of art illustrated in Venturi's text.
Mugar Reference X N 6911 F01

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. Vol. 1 provides a name index and a chronological presentation of brief biography, bibliography, important collections, and list of paintings. Vol. 2 provides a location index with city and institution, key holdings, and title index.
Mugar Reference X ND 40 W75 1992

INDEXES TO PERIODICALS AND DISSERTATIONS

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Most of these indexes to articles in periodicals DO NOT provide online full-text articles;  they contain ONLY CITATIONS to articles.  In most indexes, each citation includes a button, Find@BU. If the index does not include the buttons, check Boston University Libraries--Electronic Journals; be sure to match article publication date with the journal's dates of online availability. For example, a search for "Meyer Shapiro" in BHA (Bibliography of the History of Art) retrieves the citation:

Hills, Patricia. "1936: Meyer Shapiro, Art front, and the popular front."
In: Oxford art journal 1994, v. 17, no. 1, p. 30-41
 
A check of our electronic journal collections reveals the article is available online in an electronic resource:
Oxford Art Journal , from 1978 -- 1999 , the provider is: JSTOR Arts and Sciences III Collection**

**Why not look for articles only in JSTOR?  JSTOR provides full-text forabout 40 art journals and excludes the most current four or five years.  Search for articles on your topic in comprehenisve indexes such as Art Index, BHA, etc.  Find out if the articles are available in the library's online or print or microfilm collections.  Copies of articles in journals not in our collections may be requested through interlibrary loan

AATA ONLINE: Abstracts of International Conservation Literature,  1932-.
Indexes journals covering the "management and conservation of international material cultural heritage -- broadly interpreted to include works of art, cultural objects, museum collections, archives and library materials, architecture, historic sites, and archaeology."  Getty Conservation Institute. Replaces the print version.
 
America: History and Life, 1964--. BU
Subject index to articles, book reviews, and dissertations on the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. Also available in print for the years 1964 to 1999 at Mugar Reference X Z 1201 F64.

A&HCI (Web of Science: Arts & Humanities Citation Index), 1988--. BU
Multidisciplinary database covering journal articles. Indexes articles (choose General Search) and references cited in articles (choose Cited Ref Search). Useful for authors who want to find out where their articles have been cited. Can be used to find illustrations in journal articles published from 1988 forward--(choose Cited Ref Search and then either enter artist name--last name and first initial, e.g., picasso p--in Cited Author box or enter title of work of art in Cited Work box). Click Search to find the articles. Note that publication dates of cited works are not limited to the index dates. For 1975-1988, use the print version at Mugar Reference X Z 5937 A795.

Art Index and Art Index Retrospective, 1929--. BU
Periodical coverage includes English-language periodicals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins, as well as periodicals published in French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Swedish. In addition to articles, Art Abstracts indexes reproductions of works of art that appear in indexed periodicals. Subjects covered include archaeology, architecture, art history, city planning, crafts, motion pictures, graphic arts, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, museology, and photography. Also available in print at Mugar Reference XZ 5937 F29.

ARTBibliographiesMODERN, 1969--.
Indexes articles, books, exhibition catalogs, and theses on modern art, photography, and design from late 19th century to the present. Also available in print at Mugar Reference X Z 5935 L64

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, 1930's--. BU
Indexes more than 1,000 international periodicals relating to architecture, archeology, city planning, interior design, and historic preservation. Coverage from the 1930's (with selective coverage dating back to the 1860's) to the present.

BHA(Bibliography of the History of Art), 1973--. BU
Getty Information Institute. Indexes books, journals, dissertations, and exhibition catalogs. Covers Western art, all media, from late antiquity to the present. Includes RILA (International Repertory of the Literature of Art, 1975-1989 Mugar Reference XZ 5937 R15M ), and RAA (Repertoire d'Art et d'Archeologie, 1973-1989; available in print for the years 1910 to 1989 at Mugar Reference XZ 5937 F10). RAA covers late antiquity to the present; excludes Islamic, Far Eastern, and primitive art and archaeology.

Bibliography of Asian Studies, 1971--.
Includes all subjects (especially humanities and social sciences) pertaining to East, Southeast, and South Asia published worldwide. Users can search and also browse by country/region, by subject, or by journal title.

Boston University Libraries--Electronic Indexes and Databases
List of indexes in all subject areas accessible on the World Wide Web and on CD-ROM networks in Mugar Memorial Library and branch libraries. Databases marked BU are available only to students, faculty, and staff of Boston University.

Dissertation Abstracts, 1861--. BU
Citations to dissertations accepted for doctoral degrees at accredited North American institutions and more than 200 institutions elsewhere; abstracts are available from 1980 to date. Citations to masters' theses from 1962 to date; abstracts available from 1988 to date. Abstracts in print are available from 1938 to date at Mugar Reference XAS 30 F38.

FRANCIS, 1984--. BU
Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Multidisciplinary, multilingual database with emphasis on humanities and social sciences.

Historical Abstracts, 1969--. BU
Indexes articles, book reviews, and dissertations on the history and culture of the world (excluding the United States and Canada) from 1450 to the present. Also available in print from 1955 to 1999 at Mugar Reference X D 1 F55.

Index to 19th-Century American Art Periodicals. BU
Covers nearly all art journals from the 19th century. Indexes entire journal contents--articles, art notes, illustrations, stories, poems, and advertisements. Source of information on popular culture and industry, artists and illustrators, painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, architecture and design, exhibitions and sales, decoration, and collecting.

IngentaConnect, 1988--.
Current, multidisciplinary database with keyword searching and journal browsing.
 
 
International Medieval Bibliography 1967-- BU

BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

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Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Kunstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart,
by Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, 37 vols, 1908-1950. Artists from antiquity to about 1870. Known as Thieme-Becker, this biographical dictionary contains signed articles with bibliographical information on older publications and data on minor artists. It is supplemented by Vollmer's dictionary below.
Mugar Reference X N 40 F08

Allegemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Kunstler des XX Jahrhunderts,
ed. Hans Vollmer, 6 vols, 1953-1960. Artists born after 1870.
Mugar Reference X N 40 F53

Allgemeines Kunstler-Lexikon. Die Bildenden Kunstler aller Zeiten und Volker,
ed. Gunter Meissner. Includes a bibliography and English-language instructions on using the dictionary. This publication updates and expands Thieme-Becker and Vollmer; Mugar has the first seven volumes.
Mugar Reference X N 40 A66 1983

Art Books: A Basic Bibliography of Monographs on Artists,
by Wolfgang Freitag, 2nd ed. Alphabetical by artists' last names. All countries and time periods. Separate list of selected biographical dictionaries and reference works on artists.
Mugar Reference X Z 5938 F73 1997

Biographical Dictionary of Women Artists in Europe and America Since 1850,
by Penny Dunford. Brief personal and professional accounts; references; illlustrations.
Mugar Reference X N 6503 N67 1995

Biography and Genealogy Master Index BU
Covers contemporary and historical people throughout the world.

Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs de Tous les Temps et de Tous les Pays,
by Emmanuel Benezit, 1948-1976. Covers 300,000 artists of Eastern and Western art from the 5th century B.C. to the present. Entries include bibliography, locations of works, auction prices, and facsimile signatures. Useful for French artists.
Mugar Reference X N 40 B47 1976

Dictionary of Art Historians: A Biographical Dictionary of Historians, Museum Directors and Scholars of Art
by Lee Sorensen, Duke University Libraries. Searchable index of "art historians mentioned in major art historiographies." Includes full name, date and city of birth, date and city of death, principal country of career, brief description of methodology or accomplishments, and bibliography of major works. Updated continuously.
http://www.lib.duke.edu/lilly/dah.htm

Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Artists, 1420-1970,
by John Milner. Brief biographical data including locations of major collections and selected references.
Mugar Reference X N 6998 M555 1993

Dictionary of Women Artists,
ed. Delia Gaze, 2 vols. Lengthy entries on 600 artists from the Middle Ages to the present in Europe, America, and Australasia include biographical data, list of exhibitions, bibliography, and signed essay. Introductory surveys on topics such as convents, training and professionalism, and feminism. Arranged chronologically.
Mugar Reference X N 8354 D53 1997

Dictionary of Women Artists: An International Dictionary of Women Artists born before 1900,
by Chris Petteys. Includes more than 21,000 women painters, sculptors, printmakers, and illustrators. Entries of varying length contain basic data including references to exhibitions of works.
Mugar Reference X N 43 P47 1985
Local/Global: Women Artists in the Nineteenth Century, ed. Deborah Cherry.
Mugar Reference X N8354 .L63 2006

Mallet's Index of Artists International-Biographical,
by Daniel Mallet. References to biographical material.
Mugar Reference X N 40 M3 1948

Popular 19th Century Painting: A Dictionary of European Genre Painters,
by Philip Hook and Mark Poltimore.
Mugar Reference X ND 1452 E58515 H66 1986

Spanish Artists from the Fourth to the Twentieth Century: A Critical Dictionary,
Frick Art Reference Library, New York, 3 vols and index. Alphabetical list of entries on artists including their names, alternate names, dates of birth or death or documented activity, national school, fields of artistic endeavor, and bibliographic references.
Mugar Reference X N 7112 S636 1993

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

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Bibliography of Salon Criticism in Paris from the Ancien Regime to the Restoration, 1699-1827, and ...from the July Monarchy to the Second Empire, 1831-1851,
ed. Neil McWilliam.
Mugar Reference X Z 5961 F7 B53 and B54 1991

Bibliography on Portraiture: Selected Writings on Portraiture as an Art Form and as Documentation
Compiled by Irene Heppner. Portraiture of Western cultures from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on American. Mainly English-language publications, including standard works, periodical articles, catalogs, theses, and books with sections on portraiture. Vol. 1 lists authors. Vol. 2 is a classified subject arrangement.
Mugar Reference X Z 5948 P8 H4 1990

Business of Watercolour: A Guide to the Archives of the Royal Watercolour Society,
by Simon Fenwick. Catalog of the Society's archives from its founding in 1804.
Mugar Reference X ND 1928 R79 1997

Festschriften in Art History, 1960-1975: Bibliography and Index,
by Betty Lincoln. Subject, author, and dedicatee indexes. Festschriften published after 1975 are indexed in BHA (Bibliography of the History of Art).
Mugar Reference X Z 5931 L52 1988

Greek and Roman Art, Architecture, and Archaeology: An Annotated Bibliography,
by William Coulson, 2nd ed rev. Over 300 books are grouped in chapters on prehistory, Greece, Rome, and sites.
Mugar Reference X Z 5932 3 C68 1987

Kunstgeschichte in Festschriften; allgemeine Bibliographie kunstwissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen in den bis 1960 erschienenen Festschriften,
by Paul Rave. Subject index to 5,865 articles in Festschriften published before 1960.
Mugar Reference X Z 5931 F62

Women Artists: An Historical, Contemporary, and Feminist Bibliography,
by Sherry Piland.
Mugar Reference X Z7963.A75 B32 1994

Women Artists and Designers in Europe since 1800: An Annotated Bibliography,
by Penny McCracken, 2 vols. Arranged by medium: bookbinding, ceramics, fashion, garden design, glass, stained glass, interior design, textiles, graphic art, painting, performance and video art, photography, and sculpture. Index of names and an index of artists and designers by country.
Mugar Reference X Z 7963 A75 M33 1998

Women in the Fine Arts: A Bibliography and Illustration Guide,
by Janet Anderson. Bibliography arranged by publication type: general reference, periodicals, exhibition catalogues, and newspapers with an artist index to entries.
Mugar Reference X Z 7963 A75 A47 1991

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

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Le Vite de' Piu Eccellenti Pittori, Scultori e Architettori,
by Giorgio Vasari, 1568, 9 vols.
Mugar Reference X N 6922 F06

Lives of the Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,
by Giorgio Vasari, trans. A. Hinds, 4 vols.
Mugar Reference X N 6922 V48 1963

Sources and Documents in the History of Art Series,
20 vols. For individual titles, use a WORD search--"sources documents art"-- in the online catalog.
Individual call numbers

TIMELINES

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AlternaTime...A Collection of Timelines on the Web
George Emery, Canisius College, NY. Sites grouped under the headings: history and culture, science and technology, arts and literature, popular culture, and science fiction.

Timeline of Art History
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.  " currently over 20,000 pages, consisting of around 300 chronological narratives, 750 special topic essays, and 5000 color
illustrations of Museum works of art. It is supplemented by maps, comparative
works of art, and site photography...the comprehensive index [is] organized by subject, special topic, artist, or accession number to find a specific theme or work of art."
 
Timelines of the Arts and Literature,
by David Brownstone. Chronology from 100,000-5000 B.C. through 1992. Year-by-year from 1500 A.D. Includes film and broadcasting (from 1920) and world events.
Mugar Reference X NX 447.5 .B76 1994

Wilson Chronology of the Arts,
by George Ochoa. Four thousand entries "beginning with prehistoric rock engravings in Australia and ending with contemporary art installations" (1997). Covers both popular and "elite" art forms. Scattered sidebars provide extended commentary on an artist, a technique, etc. An appendix of birth and death dates and a bibliography are included.
Mugar Reference X N 5306 O26 1998

SYMBOLS, SUBJECTS, ICONOGRAPHY

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Dent Dictionary of Symbols in Christian Art,
by Jennifer Speake. Biographies of saints and descriptions of objects and symbols. Visual index of illustrations.
Mugar Reference X N 7825 S68 1994

Dictionary of Symbols in Western Art,
by Sarah Carr-Gomm. Entries on saints; martyrs; mythical, biblical, and religious characters and episodes. Some illustrations. Index of artists and index of supplementary words.
Mugar Reference X N 7740 C29 1995

Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art,
ed. Helene Roberts, 2 vols. Alphabetical arrangement by theme from abandonment to Zodiac. Lengthy essays by 42 contributors compare narratives on a single theme from different ages, cultures, and forms. For example, the essay on abandonment includes Oedipus, Moses, Jesus Christ, and foundling hospitals. Each essay is followed by a list of works of art depicting the theme and a bibliography of further reading. Each theme is represented by one illustration.
Mugar Reference X N 7560 E53 1998

Encyclopedia of Women in Religious Art,
by Diane Apostolos-Cappadonia. Female figures and symbols from various cultures and periods including Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Meso-America.
Mugar Reference X N 7793 W65 A66 1996

Favorite Subjects in Western Art,
by Alden Todd.
Mugar Reference X N 7430 F683
Gods and Heroes in Art,
by Lucia Impelluso.  (Getty Guide to Imagery Series)
Mugar Reference X N 7760 .I4713 2002  
 

Iconographic Index to New Testament Subjects Represented in Photographs and Slides of Paintings in the Visual Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University,

by Helene Roberts.
Mugar Reference X ND 1430 R6 1992

Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art,
by James Hall. Sections on abstract signs, animals, artifacts, earth and sky, human body and dress, and plans. Bibliography and chronological tables.
Mugar Reference X N 7740 H35 1994

Introduction to Iconography: Symbols, Allusions and Meaning in the Visual Arts: Documenting the Image,
by Roelof van Straten, rev. ed. The theoretical section discusses iconography, personification, allegory, and symbols. The practical section covers literary sources of subjects in art; iconographic handbooks and photo archives; and the classification system, ICONOCLASS.
Mugar Reference X N 7565 S7713 1994

Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (LIMC),
ed. Hans Christoph, 18 vols. Includes Greek, Roman, and Etruscan mythology. Articles include literary sources and catalogues of works of art depicting the subject. Arranged alphabetically by personage. Separate text and plate volumes. Two index volumes.
Mugar Reference X N 7760 L49 1981
Nature and Its Symbols
by Lucia Impelluso (Getty Guide to Imagery Series)
Mugar Reference XN 7680 I4713 2004

Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990s,
by Jane Reid, 2 vols. Each entry provides description of the mythological figure and representations in art, music, dance, and literature with references to a list of sources where more information may be found.
Mugar Reference X NX 650 M9 R45 1993

Pointers and Clues to the Subjects of Chinese and Japanese Art as shown in Drawings, Prints, Carvings and the Decoration of Porcelain and Lacquer,
by Will Edmunds. Republication of the edition published in 1934. No illustrations.
Mugar Reference X N 7337 E3 2002

Post-Biblical Saints Art Index,
by Mercedes Rochelle. Index to illustrations of saints, "who lived after the time period of the Bible," arranged alphabetically by saints' names. Following the entry's location of the work of art, a book in which there is a reproduction of the work of art is listed. An index of artists, an index of attributes and events, a directory of museums, and a bibliography are included.
Mugar Reference X N 8079.5 R63 1994

Repertoire de la Statuaire Grecque et Romaine,
by Salomon Reinach, 6 vols. Line drawings grouped by subject. General, subject, and museum indexes. Often cited in scholarly publications.
Mugar Reference X NB 86 F04

Repertoire de peintures dur Moyen Age et de la Renaissance (1280-1580),
by Salomon Reinach, reprint. See annotation above.
Mugar Reference X ND 40 R4 1978

Repertoire de Reliefs Grecs et Romains,
by Salomon Reinach, 3 vols. See annotation above.
Mugar Reference X NB 133 F09

Repertoire des Vases Peints Grecs et Etrusques,
by Salomon Reinach, 2 vols in 1, reprint. See annotation above.
Mugar Reference X NK 4645 R43 1979

Saints in Italian Art,
by George Kaftal, 4 vols. Illustrated, iconographical study arranged alphabetically by saints' names in four volumes covering Tuscan painting, central and south Italian schools of painting, painting of north east Italy, and painting of north west Italy.
Mugar Reference X N 8080 K25

Signs and Symbols in Christian Art
by George Ferguson. Illustrated, comprehensive dictionary in fourteen thematic sections from animals, birds, and insects to artifacts.
Mugar Reference X N 7830 F37 1966

Sources for the Study of Iconography,
Beryl Smith, Art Library, Rutgers University, last updated 1998. Comprehensive bibliography of print sources for iconography.

Sources in Iconography in the Blackader-Lauterman Library of Architecture and Art, McGill University: An Annotated Bibliography,
ed. Irena Murray. Chapters on general bibliographies of art history, reference sources in iconography, studies of iconography, classical mythology, sacred imagery, secular imagery, and various topics.
Mugar Reference X N 7560 B58 1997

Subject Catalogue of Paintings in Public Collections,
ed. Celestine Dars. Vol. 1 covers the National Gallery, London, the Wallace Collection, and the Wellington Museum; and Vol. 2 the Tate Gallery's Old Masters Collection. Subjects range from allegory to work-rural. Descriptions of paintings provided.
Mugar Reference X ND 45 S94

Tracing Memory: A Glossary of Graphic Signs and Symbols in African Art and Culture,
by Clementine Faik-Nzuji.
Mugar Reference X GN 645 F28513 1996

MUSEUMS AND MUSEUM STUDIES

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Brooklyn Museum Exhibition Index,
2,428 exhibitions from 1843 to the present. Many of the entries include image links to installations. Click on EDIT - FIND in your browser to search for keywords.
 
Catalog of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications,
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Publications by and about the Museum published from 1870 to 1989 and available on microfiche at the Museum. Author, subject, and title access. The museum's online library catalog is Watsonline.
Mugar Reference X Z 881 N662 1990

Catalogue of the Harvard University Fine Arts Library, the Fogg Art Museum,
Harvard University, Fine Arts Library, 15 vols. Includes auction sales catalogues. For titles published since 1981, use HOLLIS: Union Catalog of the Harvard Libraries.
Mugar Reference X Z 5939 H35 1971

Frick Art Reference Library Original Index to Art Periodicals,
Frick Art Reference Library, 12 vols. Indexes articles on Western European and American painting, drawing, and sculpture from the 4th century A.D. to 1860. Includes over 1,000 journals, many Spanish, published from the 1850's to 1960. For telnet access to the library's holdings, use Fresco.
Mugar Reference X Z 5937 F74
Handbook for Museums,
by Gardy Edson. Main topics covered are museum role and responsibility, collection management and care, interpretation and communication, professionalism and ethics, and support material including forms and a glossary. Many illustrations and diagrams enhance the practical nature of this book.
Mugar Reference X AM 5 E37 1994

Heritage, Museums and Galleries: An Introductory Reader.
Ed. Gerard Corsane.   Previously published essays.
Mugar Reference X AM 7 H465 2005

How to Research Works of Art in the Fogg Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
International Directory of Museum Training,
by Gary Edson. Entries include basic information about programs offered including time required to complete, areas of study and specialization, and answers to questions, such as "is museum ethics a regular part of the program?"
Mugar Reference X AM 7 E35 1995
Keyguide to Information Sources in Museum Studies,
by Peter Woodhead, 2nd ed. Major sections cover an overview of museum studies and its literature, a bibliographical listing of sources of information, and a list of selected organizations.
Mugar Reference X AM 5 E37 1994
Library Catalog of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art Library, 2d rev. ed., 48 vols, supplement 2, 4 vols. For titles published since 1980, use Watsonline.
Mugar Reference X Z 881 N6622

Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition Archive 
From 2000 to the present.  Images and online resources related to each exhibition. Searchable by keyword.

Museum Careers and Training: A Professional Guide,
by Victor Danilov. Divided into two main sections: history and types of museum careers and training and directory of museum training programs. Includes a discussion of internships and fellowships.
Mugar Reference X AM 7 D34 1994
Museum Studies: Information for Museum Professionals and Scholars
Smithsonian. This page provides links to resources pertaining to museum studies: Smithsonian Institution resources, conservation and preservation, education, museum foundation and grant information, organizations, professional resources, and technology.
Museum Studies & Arts Management
Vassar College Art Library. Briefly annotated directory of sites providing information on arts management resources; ethics, laws, and mandates; bibliographic resources; professional education programs; museum documentation; grant resources; art market; and museum discussion lists.

Museum Studies: Online Resources for Students and Practitiioners.  Tom Caswell, C&RL News, July/August 2007, Vol. 68, No. 7 (Association of College and Research Libraries)

Museums and Galleries
Christopher Witcombe, Sweet Briar College. From "Art History Resources on the Web." Extensive list of international museum sites grouped by country.
Museums of the World (Museen der Welt),
ed. Bettina Bartz. Subject and geographical indexes.
Mugar Reference X AM 1 M76 1992
Museums of the World: museum.com
Museums worldwide may announce their exhibits on this site. Access by search engine or by category. All museum types included. Includes the latest museum news worldwide and a different museum featured each day.
Museums: Their History and Their Uses,
by David Murray, 2 vols.
Mugar Reference XAM 5 M9 2000
Museology Bibliography (BMUSE), CHIN (Canadian Heritage)
National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.) Exhibitions List.
1941 through 2005.  Search by year or by keyword. Descriptions. 
Official Museum Directory,
by American Association of Museums, 2 vols. American museums only. Arranged by state with indexes to personnel, by category (e.g., history), and by collection (e.g., geologica). Brief entries of informational data. Vol. 2 covers products and services.
Mugar Reference X AM 10 A204
 

University and College Museums, Galleries, and Related Facilities: A Descriptive Directory,
by Victor Danilov. United States only. Opening chapters on campus museums, historical overview, mission, types of institutions, governance, funding, marketing, and collections and research. Directory arranged by type from agriculture to zoology.
Mugar Reference X AM 11 D35 1996
Virtual Library Museums Page,
Mainly by country.

EXHIBITION CATALOGS

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Art Exhibition Catalogues on Microfiche,
University of California, Santa Barbara, Arts Library. Microfiche set of published catalogues of exhibitions held in North American and European museums and galleries mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mugar Memorial Library has many but not all of the 3,000 catalogues on microfiche. Microfiche are filed by numerical code (1.031.004 = sale number, museum or gallery number, exhibition title number) printed on the right side of the fiche header. Catalogues are retrieved using the indexes listed below.
Mugar Micro Mfiche

Index to Art Exhibition Catalogues on Microfiche,
Chadwyck-Healey Ltd. The main index is arranged alphabetically by keyword from "abstracte" to "zanetti-zilla." Also subject, gallery/museum, and gallery/museum number indexes.
Mugar Micro Reference X N 4390 I 52

Subject Index to Art Exhibition Catalogues on Microfiche,
University of California, Santa Barbara, Arts Library, 1984. Indexes the 45,000 exhibition catalogues in the UCSB collection by artist, style or movement, medium, subject, collection, then by country, city, century, specific dates. Separate index of museums and galleries. Supplements through 1989. The microfiche are filed under "Art Catalogs." NOTE: Records for about 78,00 individual catalogs from UCSB's Art Exhibition Catalog (AEC) Collection are available in the RLIN database.  Please consult a Mugar Memorial Library librarian for access to the database.
Mugar Micro Mfiche

Worldwide Bibliography of Art Exhibition Catalogues, 1963-1987,
3 vols. Indexes the Worldwide Art Catalogue Bulletin International Review of Art Exhibition Catalogues (Mugar Reference X N 1 W67) by geography, media, topic, monograph (artist's name), and title.  The searchable Worldwide database contains over 37,000 exhibition catalog titles published since the early 1960's.
Mugar Reference X N 4396 W67 1992

DIRECTORIES

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Artists as Illustrators: An International Directory with Signatures and Monograms, 1800--the present,
by John Castagno.
Mugar Reference X NC 961 63 C37 1989

Artists' Monograms and Indiscernible Signatures: An International Directory, 1800-1991,
by John Castagno.
Mugar Reference X N45 C374 1991

Census of Antique Works of Art and Architecture Known in the Renaissance. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Two databases: Antique Monuments and Renaissance Documents.  Also searchable by Location, Person, Date, Style, Inscription, and Bibliography.

Directory of M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in Art, Art History, and Related Areas,
College Art Association. A "guide to more than 200 schools that offer M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in art history, studio art, museum studies, conservation, and related areas. Complete information is provided about each program, with details on admissions requirements, student body, faculty, curriculum, library resources, tuition, fellowships and financial aid, campus housing, and much more. Includes geographic, area, and faculty indices."
Mugar Reference X N328 D567 1995

European Artists: Signatures and Monograms, 1800-1990, including Selected Artists from Other Parts of the World,
by John Castagno.
Mugar Reference X N45 C38 1990

International Directory of Art Libraries = Ripertoire international de Bibliothhques d'art
by Thomas Hill, Vassar College Art Library and IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). Access to 3,000 libraries and library departments with specialized holdings in art, architecture, and archaeology. Entries include address, telephone and FAX numbers, hours of operation, annual closings, listings of professional librarians with e-mail adresses, and direct Web links to institutional home pages.

International Directory of Arts,
biennial, 2 vols. Museums, universities, associations, galleries, restorers, etc.
Mugar Reference X N 50 F52

Listing of Works of Art and Art Objects Owned by Boston University,
Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center.
Mugar Reference X N 521 B6 A5 1988

Old Masters: Signatures and Monograms: 1400 to born 1800,
by John Castagno.
Mugar Reference X N 45 C39 1996

TYPOGRAPHY

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ABC Typography: A Virtual Museum of Typography
About two dozen common typefaces in groups representing Classic, 20th Century, Contemporary, and Unclassified/Miscellaneous. Each group includes a brief description, an example, and links to adaptations of each particular typeface.

 

MICROFORM COLLECTIONS

American Architectural Books: A List of Books, Portfolios, and Pamphlets on Architecture and Related Subjects Published in America [from 1775 to] before 1895 , by Henry-Russell Hitchcock.  See American Architecture: Guides and Bibliographies

American Periodicals, 18th Century; American Periodicals, 1800-1850; and American Periodicals 1850-1900, Civil War and Reconstruction. See American Studies: Magazines and Newspapers

Art Exhibition Catalogues on Microfiche. See EXHIBITION CATALOGS

History of Photography. See Photography: Bibliographies and Guides

Marburger Index: Inventory of Art in Germany, Users' Manual, ed. Bildarchiv Foto Marburg (in English). Useful in accessing about 500,000 photographs taken between 1950 and 1976 and reproduced on microfiche which are arranged alphabetically by city, then museum, and collection. Includes architecture, painting, sculpture, and crafts in Germany from pre- and early history to modern times. Check microfiche in Current Periodicals Area for Mugar Memorial Library holdings and the index.  See also:  Bildarchiv Foto Marburg:
Bildarchiv zur Kunst und Architectur in Deutschland Foto Archiv

Micro XN 6861 M353 1985

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps [microform] Massachusetts [1867-1950]. See American Studies: Atlases, Gazetteer, Maps

Trade Catalogues at Winterthur: A Guide to the Literature of Merchandising, 1750 to 1980 , compiled by E. Richard McKinstry.  See American Studies: Bibliographies

 

AUCTION SALES

Auction Sales Indexes: Books, CD-ROM's and On-Line Services.  New York Public Library. 

 

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Research Guides

Ruth S. Thomas (rthomas@bu.edu) 617-353-3770
771 Commonwealth Avenue |  Boston, MA  |  02215  |  617-353-2700  |  Boston University