• This annotated guide to selected art reference sources in the Newton Gresham Library

This annotated guide to selected art reference sources in the Newton Gresham Library
covers painting, drawing, graphic arts, and sculpture. See also the bibliographies in this series on
“Architecture and Interior Design” (#33) and “Photography” (#34).
RESEARCH GUIDES
Arntzen, Etta and Robert Rainwater. Guide to the Literature of Art History. Chicago: American
Library Association, 1980. REF N 380 .A75
A major annotated research guide that covers painting, sculpture, prints, drawings,
photography, and the decorative and applied arts. Serials and foreign language titles are included
but monographs on individual artists are not. Although it needs updating, this is still a useful
resource.
Chamberlin, Mary W. Guide to Art Reference Books. Chicago: American Library Association,
1959. REF N 7425 .C45
This was the standard reference guide of the pre-1960 era. It includes 2,500 annotated
entries arranged by subject, but no monographs for individual artists are listed.
Ehresmann, Donald L. Fine Arts: A Bibliographic Guide to Basic Reference Works, Histories,
and Handbooks, 3rd ed. Littleton, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 1990. REF N 5300 .E46 1990
An annotated bibliography of books that treat at least two of the following subjects:
architecture, sculpture, and painting. Part I covers reference works; Part II covers historical
works and handbooks.
Freitag, Wolfgang M. Art Books: A Basic Bibliography of Monographs on Artists, 2nd ed. New
York: Garland, 1997. REF N 40 .F73 1997
Freitag lists books, catalogues raisonnés, exhibition catalogues, bibliographies, and
dissertations on 15,000 artists, architects, sculptors, and photographers.
Jones, Lois Swan. Art Information and the Internet: How to Find It, How to Use It. Phoenix,
Ariz.: Oryx, 1999. REF N 59 .J66 1999
A practical and well-organized guide for negotiating the complexities of art history
research. The emphasis is on electronic resources (online catalogs, periodical indexes, Internet,
etc.), although Jones covers print material as well.
________. Art Research Methods and Sources: A Guide to Finding Art Information. Dubuque,
Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, 1984. REF N 85 .J64 1984
Jones’ earlier book provides valuable guidance on how to conduct library research in art
history and covers printed resources in more detail than her later book (above).
ART HISTORY SURVEYS
Arnason, H.H. and Marla Prather. History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture,
Photography, 5th ed. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2004. REF N 6490 .A713 2004
Gardner, Helen, Fred S. Kleiner,and Christin J. Mamiya. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages,
12th ed. Belmont: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005. REF N 5300 .G25 2005
Hartt, Frederick. Art: A History of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, 4th ed. New York:
H.N. Abrams, 1993. REF N 5300 .H283 1993
Hartt, Frederick and David G. Wilkins. History of Italian Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture,
Architecture, 5th ed. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2003. REF N 6915 .H37 2003
Janson, H.W. and Anthony F. Janson. History of Art, 6th ed. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2001.
REF N 5300 .J3 2001
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History, rev. ed. 2 vol. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1999.
REF 5300 .S923 1999
ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND DICTIONARIES
Atkins, Robert. Artspeak: A Guide to Contemporary Ideas, Movements, and Buzzwords, 1945
to the Present, 2nd ed. New York: Abbeville Press, 1997. REF N 6490 .A87 1997
________. Artspoke: A Guide to Modern Ideas, Movements, and Buzzwords, 1848-1944. New
York: Abbeville Press, 1993. REF N 6447 .A85 1993
These two guides contain information that is not readily available in other sources.
The Dictionary of Art. 34 vols. New York: Grove’s Dictionaries, 1996. REF N 31 .D5 1996
This is the premier art encyclopedia, with over 45,000 entries—nearly one-half are
biographical—providing detailed coverage of historical periods; countries, regions, cities, and
towns; archaeological sites and excavations; important buildings, cathedrals, monuments, and
structures; artistic styles, schools, groups, and movements; themes and subject matter; and
materials and techniques.
Encyclopedia of World Art. 17 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959-1989. REF N 31 .E553
An older yet still important encyclopedia that provides scholarly historical, biographical,
methodological, theoretical, and geographical articles. The illustrations are grouped together at
the end of each volume. The index (volume 15) should be consulted first before attempting to use
this set.
Chilvers, Ian and Harold Osborne, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of Art. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1997. REF N 33 .O93 1997
Chilvers, Ian. The Oxford Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Art. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1998. REF N 6490 .C5317 1998
Murray, Peter and Linda Murray. Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1996. REF N 7830 .M87 1996
These titles are excellent sources for concise biographies; definitions of styles and
technical terms; and broad historical overviews.
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art. 5 vol. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969. REF N 33 .M23
A good reference source for those not requiring the longer essays in the works listed
above. Coverage of art of the Near East, the Far East, and the primitive world is especially
noteworthy. A large percentage of the 15,000 entries are biographical. The set is very well
illustrated.
INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS
Art Index. Brooklyn, N.Y.: H.W. Wilson, 1928-1997. REF NX 1 .A77
Indexes over 200 English language periodicals and annuals, as well as selected European
publications, on subjects that include archaeology, architecture, art history, industrial design,
interior design, landscape architecture, motion pictures, museology, painting, performance art,
photography, sculpture, television, and video. Available online as Wilson Art Full Text, which
provides indexing 1984-date, abstracting 1994-date, and full text 1997-date.
ARTbibliographies Modern. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-Clio, 1969-2001. REF NX 449.5 .L64
Indexes and abstracts English and foreign language periodicals, books, exhibition
catalogues, dissertations, and Festschriften covering a similar range of subjects to Art Index.
Beginning with volume 19 (1988), coverage is limited—with the exception of photography—to
post-1900 subjects. Previous volumes, however, cover subjects extending back to 1800.
Bibliography of the History of Art: BHA. Santa Monica, Calif.: Getty Art History Information
Center, 1975-2001. REF N 7510 .R160
This index provides abstracts for books, periodical articles, conference proceedings,
Festschriften and other collected essays, exhibition catalogues, dissertations, and microform
publications on European art from late Antiquity to the present and American art from the
European discoveries to the present.
ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES AND WRITINGS
A. INDEXES
Havlice, Patricia P. Index to Artistic Biography. 2 vol. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973.
REF N 40 .H38
________. Index to Artistic Biography. First Supplement. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press,
1981. REF N 40 .H38 Suppl. 1
________. Index to Artistic Biography. Second Supplement. 2 vol. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow
Press, 2002. REF N 40 .H38 Suppl. 2
Havlice indexes sixty-four biographical works in ten languages in the main volumes; over
200 additional works are indexed in the supplements.
Robertson, Jack S. Twentieth-Century Artists on Art: An Index to Writings, Statements, and
Interviews by Artists, Architects, and Designers, 2nd ed. New York: G.K. Hall, 1996.
REF NX 456 .R59 1996
Contains over 27,500 citations for 14,400 artists, which are keyed to 930 publications.
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B. DICTIONARIES AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS
Cummings, Paul. Contemporary American Artists, 6th ed. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1994.
REF N 6512 .C854 1994
Contains entries on American artists, chiefly of the post-WWII era, with information on
awards, collections, and exhibitions.
Dunford, Penny. A Biographical Dictionary of Women Artists in Europe and America Since
1850. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989. REF N 6757 .D86 1990
Contains biographical sketches of several hundred American and European women
artists, selectively illustrated with examples of their work.
Falk, Peter H.., ed. Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in
America. 3 vol. Madison, Conn.: Sound View Press, 1999. REF N 6536 .W56 1999
Reprints and updates 25,000 entries from the American Art Annual, 1893-1933 and its
four later volumes published under the title Who’s Who in American Art, 1935-1947.
Farris, Phoebe, ed. Women Artists of Color: A Bio-Critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists
in the Americas. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1999. REF N 8354 .W656 1999
Biographical essays, exhibition lists, statements, and bibliographic references for
contemporary Native American, Latin American, African American, and Asian Pacific American
women artists.
Fielding, Mantle. Mantle Fielding’s Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers,
2nd ed. Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: Apollo, 1986. REF N 6536 .F5 1986
Contains biographical sketches of nearly 13,000 American artists.
Gaze, Delia, ed. Dictionary of Women Artists. 2 vols. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997.
REF N 8354 .D53 1997
Includes 600 biographical essays on woman artists.
Groce, George C. and David H. Wallace. The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of
Artists in America, 1564-1860. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957. REF N 6535 .N4
Over 10,000 antebellum American artists are profiled.
Hillstrom, Laurie C. and Kevin Hillstrom, eds. Contemporary Women Artists. Detroit: St.
James Press, 1999. REF N 8354 .C66 1999
Provides biographical details and information on exhibitions, collections, and
publications for over 350 women artists and photographers of the 20th century.
Marks, Claude. World Artists, 1950-1980. New York: H.W. Wilson,1984. REF N 6489 .M37
1987
________. World Artists, 1980-1990. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1991. REF N 6489 .W67 1991
Biographical essays on artists active or influential in the post-1950 era.
Riggs, Thomas, ed. St. James Guide to Black Artists. Detroit: Gale, 1997. REF N 40 .S78 1997
Includes 400 biographical essays on painters, sculptors, and printmakers of African
descent, primarily of the twentieth century.
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Pendergast, Sara and Tom Pendergast, eds. Contemporary Artists, 5th ed. 2 vol. New York:
St. James Press, 2002. REF N 6490 .C6567 2002
Profiles over 800 international artists active in the post-1965 era.
Who’s Who in American Art. New York: R.R. Bowker, [biennial]. REF N 6536 .W5
Profiles approximately 11,000 living North American artists, administrators, historians,
educators, collectors, critics, curators, and dealers. Entrants are indexed by profession and
geographical location. A cumulative necrology extending back to 1953 is included.
NOTE: For biographical essays on artists, it is also worthwhile to consult American National
Biography (REF E 176 .A43 1999) and Dictionary of American Biography (REF E 176.D56);
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for British subjects (REF DA 28 .O95 2004); Current
Biography for subjects active after 1940 (REF CT 100 .C8).
DIRECTORIES
American Art Directory. New York: R.R. Bowker, [biennial]. REF N 50 .A54
This is the primary North American art directory. It contains listings for U.S. and
Canadian organizations, museums, libraries, associations, and art schools; major museums and art
schools abroad; state art councils; state directors and supervisors of art education; art periodicals;
newspaper art editors and critics; scholarships and fellowships; open exhibitions; and traveling
exhibition booking agencies. Indexes for subjects, personnel, and organizations are provided.
Museums of the World, 11th ed. 2 vol. Munich: K.G. Saur, 2004. REF AM 1 .M76 2004
Provides basic information on nearly 50,000 museums and museum associations in over
200 countries.
INDEXES TO PAINTINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
PAINTINGS
Havlice, Patricia P. World Painting Index. 2 vols. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1977.
REF ND 45 .H38
________. World Painting Index. First Supplement, 1973-1980. 2 vols. Metuchen, N.J.:
Scarecrow, 1982. REF ND 45 .H38 Suppl.
________. World Painting Index. Second Supplement, 1980-1989. 2 vols. Metuchen, N.J.:
Scarecrow, 1995. REF ND 45 .H38 Suppl. 2
________. World Painting Index. Third Supplement, 1990-1999. 2 vol. Metuchen, N.J.:
Scarecrow, 2003. REF ND 45 .H38 Suppl. 3
The main volumes index reproductions of paintings appearing in 1,167 books and
catalogues published between 1940 and 1975; the supplementary volumes index an additional
2,265 books and exhibition catalogues published between 1976 and 1999.
Korwin, Yala H. Index to Two-Dimensional Art Works. 2 vols. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow,
1981. REF N 7525 .K67
An index to 35,000 two-dimensional art works appearing over 250 books published
between 1960 and 1977. Volume I contains the artist index; Volume II contains the title-subject
index.
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Munro, Isabel Stevenson and Kate M. Monro. Index to Reproductions of American Paintings.
New York: H.W. Wilson, 1948. REF ND 205 .M57
________. Index to Reproductions of American Paintings. First Supplement. New York: H.W.
Wilson, 1964. REF ND 205 .M57 Suppl. I
The main volume indexes reproductions of paintings by American artists appearing in
books and catalogues published between 1879 and 1945. The supplement indexes an additional
400 books and catalogues published between 1946 and 1961.
________. Index to Reproductions of European Paintings. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1956.
REF ND 45 .M6
Indexes reproductions of paintings by European artists appearing in 328 books published
between 1900 and 1952.
Smith, Lynn Wall and Nancy Dustin Wall Moure. Index to Reproductions of American Paintings
Appearing in More than 400 Books, Mostly Published Since 1960. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow,
1977. REF ND 205 .S575
Indexes 30,000 American paintings by the artist’s name and by broad subject headings.
B. ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustration Index. 8 vols. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1959-1998. REF N 7525 .A66
This series indexes illustrations—with the exception of advertisements—found in a select
group of popular magazines, including National Geographic and Smithsonian. Volume VIII, by
Marsha C. Appel, contains approximately 28,000 entries organized by over 19,000 subject
headings.
ICONOGRAPHY
Aghion, IrPne, et al. Gods and Heroes of Classical Antiquity. New York: Flammarion, 1996.
REF N 7760 .A34 1996
Ducet-Suchaux, Gaston, et al. The Bible and the Saints. New York: Flammarion, 1994.
REF N 8080 .D82 1994
Frédéric, Louis. Buddhism. New York: Flammarion, 1995. REF N 8193 .F7 1995
These titles in the Flammarion Iconographic Guides series provide illustrated
compendiums for researching iconography in major religious traditions.
Earls, Irene. Baroque Art: A Topical Dictionary. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996.
REF N 6415 .B3E18 1996
________. Renaissance Art: A Topical Dictionary. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1987.
REF N 6370 .E27 1987
Ross, Leslie. Medieval Art: A Topical Dictionary. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996.
REF N 7850 .R67 1996
Strieter, Terry W. Nineteenth-Century European Art: A Topical Dictionary. Westport, Conn.:
Greenwood Press, 1999. REF N 6757 .S77 1999
These dictionaries provide background on the subjects, stories, symbols, and themes
frequently represented in European artworks of the designated time periods.
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Hall, James. Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art. New York:
IconEditions, 1994. REF N 7740 .H35 1994
This dictionary contains sections devoted to Abstract Signs; Animals; Artefacts; Earth
and Sky; Human Body and Dress; and Plants, with an emphasis on the civilizations of ancient
Egypt and the Near and Far East. See also Hall’s earlier book, Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols
in Art, which focuses on Christian and classical themes in Western art (REF N 7560 .H34 1974b).
Index Iconologus. N 7860 .I5 [Microforms, Room 143]
Over 400 microfiche provide approximately 60,000 illustrations for the systematic
classification of Christian and secular art from the 13th to the 20th century (with an emphasis on
the 16th and 17th centuries).
Reid, Jane Davidson. The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990s.
2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. REF NX 650 .M9R45 1993
This guide indicates where Greek and Roman mythological figures and themes are
represented in artistic, literary, and musical works from the early Renaissance to the 1990s. An
index of artists, authors, and composers is provided.
Roberts, Helene E., ed. Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works
of Art. 2 vols. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998. REF N 7560 .E53 1998
The essays in this encyclopedia analyze recurrent themes in the history of art from
Abandonment to Zodiac. Each essay concludes with a representative list of artworks that
exemplify the theme and selected bibliographical references.
Thomas, Anabel. Illustrated Dictionary of Narrative Painting. London: John Murray, in
association with National Gallery Publications, 1994. REF ND 1288 .T45 1994
Thomas explains the Biblical and mythological stories depicted in dozens of narrative
paintings from the collection of London’s National Gallery.
INTERNET RESOURCES
These sites contain extensive links to images and resources:
Art History Resources on the Web
Voice of the Shuttle: Art History
Voice of the Shuttle: Art (Modern & Contemporary)
The World Wide Web Virtual Library: History of Art
RSH 3/2005
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