Fine and Applied Arts: Basic Reference Sources
This brief guide is intended to introduce the kinds of tools needed
to approach common art historical research problems. Many other
more specialized examples of each type are available in the library's
reference collection and can be located using the suggested subject
headings to search "Einstein," the library's on-line catalog.
Research Guides
The four works listed here provide thorough instruction in art research
methodology from formulation of a clear statement of the research problem to
organization of material in a research paper. Discussions cover strategies for
library research, standard reference sources for a great variety of topics in
many disciplines, and the use of specialized art reference tools. A useful
subject heading for locating other titles is Art-Research.
REF Z5931.G6 1978
Goldman, Bernard. Reading and Writing in the Arts: A Handbook. Rev. ed. Detroit:
Wayne State University Press, 1978.
REF N85.J64 1990
Jones, Lois Swan. Art Information: Research Methods and Resources. 3rd
ed. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt, 1990.
N59.J66 1999
Jones, Lois Swan. Art Information on the Internet: How to Find it, How to
Use it. Phoenix, Ariz. : Oryx Press, c1999.
REF N85.P55 1986
Pollard, Elizabeth B. Visual Arts Research: A Handbook. Westport, Conn.:
Greenwood Press, 1986.
REF N7425.S16 1983
Sacca, Elizabeth J., and Singer, Loren R. Visual Arts Reference and Research Guide.
Montreal: Perspecto Press, 1983.
Writing Handbooks
The titles listed in this section provide guidance in developing and presenting
essays on the visual arts. They cover selection and analysis of the subject,
writing style, organization, and manuscript format. A useful subject heading
for locating similar titles is Art Criticism-Authorship.
On Order
Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing About Art. 7th ed. New York:
Longman, 2003.
NX640.M37 1992
McCoy, W.U. Performing and Visual Arts: Writing and Reviewing. New York:
University Press of America, 1992.
N380.R438 2004
Reid, Donna K. Thinking and Writing About Art History. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004.
N7476.S29 1989
Sayre, Henry M. Writing About Art. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1989.
Bibliographies and Literature Guides
A literature search traditionally begins by consulting bibliographies. These
sources provide annotated lists of books, periodicals, and other materials
covering the arts of particular countries, time periods, work in specific media,
or more specialized topics. Useful subject headings for locating other titles
are Art-Bibliography, Art-Historiography-Bibliography, and [Topic]-Bibliography.
REF Z5931.A67N380
Arntzen, Etta. Guide to the Literature of Art History. Chicago: American
Library Association, 1980.
REF N7425.A722 1979, 1981, 1985
Art Books. 3 vols. [1876-1946, 1950-1979, 1980-1984]. New York: Bowker, 1979-1981.
REF Z5931.C45
Chamberlin, Mary W. Guide to Art Reference Books. Chicago: American Library Association,
1959.
REF Z5956.A68E47
Ehresmann, Donald L. Applied and Decorative Arts: A Bibliographic Guide to Basic Reference
Works, Histories, and Handbooks. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1977.
REF Z5931.E47 1990
Ehresmann, Donald L. Fine Arts: A Bibliographic Guide to Basic Reference Works, Histories,
and Handbooks. 3rd ed. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1990.
REF Z5938.F73 1996 N 40
Freitag, Wolfgang M. Art Books: A Basic Bibliography of Monographs on Artists. New York:
Garland Publications, 1996.
REF N7425.M88
Muehsam, Gerd. Guide to Basic Information Sources in the Visual Arts. Santa Barbara:
J. Norton, 1978.
Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
These works provide many types of information in brief format-for example, definitions
of art terms and techniques, explanations of art movements and trends, illustrations
of works of art, and biographical information about artists. A useful subject
heading for locating other titles is Art-Dictionaries.
REF N31.D5 1996
The Dictionary of Art. 34 vols. New York: Grove's Dictionaries, 1996.
Online Version available from Electronic Resources Page from RIT Library Home
Page http://wally.rit.edu .Grove
Dictionary of Art: http://wally.rit.edu/electronic/grove/grove.html
REF N31.E4833
Encyclopedia of World Art. 17 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959-1983.
REF ND1500.M3 1991
Mayer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. 5th ed. New York:
Viking, 1991.
REF N33.M23
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art. 5 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969.
REF Various Call Numbers
Oxford University Press series: The Oxford Companion to Art (N33.O9), The Oxford
Companion to the Decorative Arts (NK30.O93), The Oxford Companion to Twentieth Century
Art (N6490.O94), The Oxford Dictionary of Art (N33.O93 1988).
REF N33.P68
Praeger Encyclopedia of Art. 5 vols. New York: Praeger, 1971.
REF N33.Q5 1977
Quick, John. Artists' and Illustrators' Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977.
Indexing and Abstracting Services
Indexing and abstracting services list periodical articles by author and
subject. Several sources cited below include other types of material as
well--books, exhibition catalogs, dissertations, and conference proceedings.
Print versions are found on the Index and Abstract Shelves in the reference collection at the call numbers indicated. Useful
subject headings for locating other titles are Art-Bibliography-Abstracts,
Art-Bibliography-Indexes, and Art-Periodicals-Indexes.
INDEX NA1.A59
Architectural Index. Boulder, Colo.: The Architectural Index, 1951-date, annual.
Art Full-Text. Indexing 1984 -. Abstracts 1994 - . Monthly. Selected
Full-text beginning 1997 - .
Electronic format: RIT Library Web Page: Databases, Catalogs and More via WilsonWeb
http://wally.rit.edu/electronic/art/art.html
Print Issues: INDEX N1.A1A68. Vol. 32-38 1983/84-1989/1990.
Art Index Retrospective. Indexing 1929-1984. Citations and Abstracts.
Electronic format: RIT Library Web page: Databases, Catalogs and More via WilsonWeb
http://wally.rit.edu/electronic/artretro/artretro.html
Print Issues: INDEX N1.A1A68. Vol. 1-32. 1929-1983/84.
Artbibliographies Modern. Indexing. 1974 - present.
Electronic Format:.RIT Library Web Page: Databases, Catalogs and More via WilsonWeb
http://wally.rit.edu/electronic/artbib/artbib.html
Print format back issues: INDEX N1.A79. Vol. 1- 24, 1969-93. Semi-annual.
Design and Applied Arts Index.
Electronic format: RIT Library Web Page: Databases, Catalogs and More via WilsonWeb
http://wally.rit.edu/electronic/daai/daai.html
Print format back issues: INDEX NK1110.D47. Vol. 1-6, 1987-93. Semi-annual.
Index to articles in approximately 350 design periodicals.
INDEX NK1.I5 1979-1990.
Index to Craft Journals. Sydney: Crafts Council of Australia, 1979-1990, 5-year cumulations.
Biographical Dictionaries
Biographical dictionaries provide basic information about an artist's life-birth
and death dates, education, exhibition history, awards, and collections which
include his or her work. Many also provide bibliographical citations to books,
articles, and catalogs about the artist. Most biographical dictionaries focus
upon artists of a particular time period, country, or those working in a
specific medium. The titles listed below are intended to provide only a sample
of the many biographical sources in the reference collection and cover those
areas of frequent interest to researchers at RIT. Useful subject headings for
locating other titles are: Artists-Biography, [Topic]-Bio-bibliography, and
[Topic]-Biography.
REF N40.A63 1992
Allgemeines Kunstlerlexikon: Die bildenden Kunstler aller Zeiten und Volker. Munich:
K.G. Saur, 1992-date.
REF N40.B47 1976
Benezit, Emmanuel. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs,
dessinateurs, et graveurs. Nouv. ed. 10 vols. Paris: Librarie GrŸnd, 1976.
REF N40.B545 1983
Gowing, Lawrence. A Biographical Dictionary of Artists. London: Macmillan, 1983.
REF Various Call Numbers
St. James Press series: Contemporary Architects (REF NA680.C625 1994
), Contemporary Artists (REF N6490 .C6567 1996, 5th edition on order),
Contemporary Designers (REF NK1165.C668 1990, 1997 edition on order),
Contemporary Photographers (REF TR139.C664 1995), Contemporary Women
Artists (REF 1999 edition on order).
REF N6536.W5
Who's Who in American Art. New York: Bowker, 1936-date. Bi-annual.
REF N40.W6
Who's Who in Art. London: Art Trade Press, 1960-date. Annual.
Directories
These sources provide names and addresses of art organizations of all
types-museums, galleries, schools, libraries, dealers, clubs, and professional
associations. Useful subject headings for locating other titles are
Art-Directories and [Topic]-Directories.
REF N50.A54
American Art Directory. New York: Bowker, 1952-Date. Bi-annual.
REF N8600.A76
Artist's Market. Cincinnati: Writers Digest Books. Annual.
REF N50.I6
International Directory of Arts. 2 vols. Frankfurt: Art Address Verlag Muller. Annual.
REF AM10.A204
Official Museum Directory. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Museums. Annual.
Maintained by Kari Horowicz.
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