Guides/Art Research
Vibiana Bowman, Reference Librarian
 

• Research Guides
• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
• Biographical Sources on Artists
• Symbolism & Iconographies - Dictionaries & Handbooks
• Mythology & Classical Art
• Religious Art & Iconography
• Bibliographies
• Bibliographies - American Art
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Other Library & Museum Catalogs
• Sources of Information on Reproductions
• Periodical Indexes
• Descriptions of Local Historic Sites & Buildings
• Art on the Internet

Arntzen, E. Guide to the Literature of Art History (REF N380.A7) [1980].

Annotated guide.

Jones, L.S. Art Research Methods and Resources(REF N85.J64 1984).

Art reference sources and research techniques.

The Dictionary of Art 34 vols. (REF N31.D5 1996)

Extensive coverage of all areas of art. Most entries include a source bibliography.

Dictionary of the Middle Ages 13 vols. (REF D114.D5 1982).

Multi volume set on all aspects of the period.

Encyclopedia of World Art, 1959-1987 16 vols. (REF N31.E533).

Scholarly, authoritative articles.

International Dictionary of Art and Artists 2 vols. (REF N31.I58 1990).

Two volume set presenting essays on important artists and discussions of over 500 individual works of art.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art (REF N33.M23).

Over 15,000 entries on all aspects of art.

New Catholic Encyclopedia 17 vols. (REF BX841.N44 1967).

Background information on religious art, saints, etc.

Renaissance Art: A Topical Dictionary (REF N6370.E27 1987).

Rochelle, M. Historical Art Index, A.D. 400-1650: People, Places, and Events Depicted (REF N8210.R6 1989).

Wright, C. World's Master Paintings From the Early Renaissance to the Present Day (REF ND40.W75 1991).

Contains information on the paintings of 1,300 artists including biographical material, name and location of paintings and short bibliography.

Benezit, E. Dictionnaire des Peintres Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs 10 vols. (REF N40.B47 1976).

Champlin, J.D. Cyclopedia of Painters and Paintings (REF ND30.C4 1969).

Havlice, P.P. Index to Artistic Biography [1973] and Supplement (REF N40.H38 Suppl.) [1973].

Finding list for locating information about individual artists from over 134 biographical dictionaries. Biography and Genealogy Master Index (REF CT214.B561) also is helpful for locating information in a number of biographical source books. The latest edition is available in CD-ROM (REF DESK).

Bernen, S. Myth & Religion in European Painting,1270-1700 (REF ND1288.B47 1973).

Cooper, J.C. Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols (REF BL603.C66) [1978].

Gaskell, G. Dictionary of All Scriptures and Myths, (REF BL603.G3 1960).

Hall, J. Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (REF N7560.H34 1974B).

Jobes, G. Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols 3 vols. (REF GR35 .J6).

Liungman, C.G. Dictionary of Symbols (REF BL603.L5413 1991).

Mercatante, A. S. Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend (REF BL303.M45 1988).

Olderr,S. Symbolism: A Comprehensive Dictionary (REF CB475.O38 1986).

Coulson, W.D. Greek and Roman Art, Architecture, and Archaeology (REF N5610.C68 1987).

Fox, W.S. Mythology of All Races 13 vols. (REF BL25.M81964)

Halton, T. Classical Scholarship (REF DE59.H341986).

Jobes, G. Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols (REF GR35.J6).

Oxford Classical Dictionary (REF DE5.O9 1970).

Peradotto, J. Classical Mythology: An Annotated Bibliographic Survey (REF Z7836.P4).

Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites (REF DE59.P7).

Reid, J.D. Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990s (REF NX650.M9R45 1993).

Rochelle, M. Mythological and Classical World Art Index : A Locator of Paintings, Sculptures,...executed 1200 B.C.to A.D. 1900 (REF N7760.R63 1991).

Tripp, E. The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology (REF BL303.T755 1970).

Van Keuren, F.D. Guide to Research in Classical Art and Mythology (REF N7760.V3 1991).

Anchor Bible Dictionary (REF BS440.A54 1992).

Apostolos-Cappadona, D. Dictionary of Christian Art (REF BV150.A66 1994).

Butler, A. Lives of the Saints (REF BX4654.B81956).

Child, H. and D. Colles. Christian Symbols, Ancient and Modern (REF BV150.C53 1972).

Delaney, J. Dictionary of Saints (REF BX4655.8.D44) [1980].

Duchet-Suchaux, G. The Bible and the Saints (REF N7825.D8413 1994).

Encyclopedia of Religion (REF BL31.E46 1987).

Jacobus de Voragine. The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine (BX 4654.J334 1969).

Standard source for lives of the saints.

Metford, J. Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend (REF BR95.M396 1983).

Roberts, H. Iconographic Index to Old Testament Subjects... (REF ND1430.R63 1987).

Sill, G. Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art (REF N8010.S54 1975).

Cutul, A. Twentieth-Century European Painting (REF ND458.C87) [1980].

DeWinter, P. European Decorative Arts, 1400-1600 (REF NK1840.D38 1988).

Dunkelman, M. Central Italian Painting, 1400-1465(REF N6919.C46D86 1986).

Freitag, W. Art Books; A Basic Bibliography of Monographs on Artists (REF N40.F73.1985).

Glass, D. Italian Romanesque Sculpture (REF NB613.G57 1983).

Kaufmann, T. Art & Arch. in Central Europe 1550-1620 (REF N6375.M3K38 1988).

Lane, B. Flemish Painting Outside Bruges,1400-1500 (REF ND669.F5L36 1986).

Lucas, S. Bibliography of Water Colour Painting and Painters (REF Z5948.W38L82) [1976].

Lyman, T. French Romanesque Sculpture (REF NB543.L95 1987).

Mundy, E. Painting in Bruges, 1470-1550 (REF ND671.B7M86 1985).

Nees, L. From Justinian to Charlemagne: European Art, 565-787 (REF N7832.N44 1985).

Parshall, L. Art and the Reformation (REF N7862.P37 1986).

Rosenberg, C. Fifteenth-Century North Italian Painting & Drawing (REF N6949.N67R67 1986).

Stubblebine, J. Dugento Painting (REF ND613.S881983).

Wilk, S. Fifteenth-Century Central Italian Sculpture (REF NB619.C44W54 1986).

Bronner, S.J. American Folk Art, A Guide to Sources (REF NK805.A53 1984).

Ekdahl, J. American Sculpture: A Guide to Information Sources (REF Z5954.U5E37) [1977].

Karpel, B., ed. Arts in America; A Bibliography (REF NX503.A1A7) [1979].

Keaveney, S.S. American Painting; A Guide to Information Sources (REF Z5949.A45K4) [1974].

British Paintings in the Philadelphia Museum of Art :From the Seventeenth Through the Nineteenth Century (REF ND466.P5 1986).

John G. Johnson Collection. Catalogue of Flemish and Dutch Paintings (REF ND634.J63) [1972].

John G. Johnson Collection. Catalogue of Italian Paintings (REF ND614.J6) [1966].

The Louis E. Stern Collection (REF N685.A58)[1964].

Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection (N685.A6)[1954].

Northern European Paintings in the Philadelphia Museum of Art: From the Sixteenth through the Nineteenth Century (REF ND625.P48 1990).

Paintings from Europe and the Americas in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (REF N685.A63 1994).

Philadelphia Museum of Art Bulletin (title varies), 1948+ (PER).

Archives of American Art. The Card Catalog of the Manuscript Collections of the Archives of American art (REFN6505.A72) [1980].

The Archives contain more than 6,000,000 items such as diaries, letters, photographs, sketchbooks, and exhibition brochures on individual artists. The material has been photocopied and is available at each of five locations or through interlibrary loan.

Also see: A Checklist of the Collection. 2nd ed. rev. (REF N6536.A73 1977), which is a list of the collections available as of September 1977 and the directory shelved at (REF Z6611.A7M3). There is also a Card Catalog of the Oral History Collections of the Archives of American Art (REF N6536.A73 1984).

Library Catalog of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (REF Z881.N6624 1980).

Author/Subject catalogue of one of the largest art libraries in the world. Covers entire history of art with American art one of the areas of special emphasis.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. American Paintings in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: An Illustrated Checklist (REF ND205.F728 1989).

University of Pennsylvania. University Museum. Catalogue of the Mediterranean Section (REF N5603.P5U551921)

A Guide to the University Museum Archives of the University of Pennsylvania (REF CD3479.P5U55 1984).

Havlice, P. World Painting Index (REF ND45.H38) [1977] .

Monro, I.S. Index to Reproductions of American Paintings (REF ND205.M57) [1948] .

Monro, I.S. Index to Reproductions of European Paintings (REF ND45.M6) [1956].

New York Graphic Society. Fine Art Collections (REF N4035.N48 1986).

Parry, P. Contemporary Art and Artists; An Index to Reproductions (REF N6490.P3234) [1978].

Smith, L.W. Index to Reproductions of American Paintings Appearing in More Than 400 Books (REF ND205.S575)[1977].

Thomison, D. Black Artist in America: An Index to Reproductions (REF N6538.N5T46 1991).

ANL - Anthropology Literature (1984+)

The Anthropological Literature contains records describing articles and essays in anthropology and archaeology of two or more pages, from works published in English and other European languages.

Art Index (1983+) (1929-1983 - available in paper in index area).
The Art Index is a database that cites articles from more than 285 periodicals published throughout the world. 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, the Art Index indexes reproductions of works of art that appear in indexed periodicals.
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals (1977+)
The Avery Index is the foremost periodicals index for architecture and related disciplines. It indexes over 1,000 periodicals published worldwide covering the subject areas of architecture, architectural design, city planning, historic preservation, history of architecture, interior design and landscape architecture. Updated daily.
BHA - Bibliography of the History of Art (1973+)
Contains records describing the current literature of art, including books, exhibition catalogs, dissertations, and journal articles in more than 2,500 periodicals.  Produced by the Getty Information Institute, formerly the Getty Art History Information Program, and the Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique (INIST).  BHA incorporates the art indexes RILA (International Repertory of the Literature of Art) and RAA (Repertoire d'art et d'archeologie).
Humanities Index (1983+ -) (1929-1983 - available in paper in index area)
The Humanities Index is a bibliographic index that cites articles from more than 335 English language periodicals in the fields of archaeology and classical studies, art and photography, folklore, general scholarship, history, journalism and communications, language and literature, literary and political criticism, music and performing arts, philosophy, and religion and theology.
Proquest Direct
General periodical index that covers news magazines and important journals from all areas.
Modern Arts Criticism, 1991+ (REF N6490.M63)
Reprints criticism of painters, sculptors, and architects of the modern era.

Architecture and Preservation in the State of New Jersey: A Guide to Municipalities, Regions, Historic Homes, Church Architecture and Architectural Styles (REF NA107.N5C6).

Bibliography listing books on New Jersey architecture and buildings.

Balch, P.B. Public Art in Philadelphia (REF N8836.P4B33 1992).

Description of art, and particularly sculpture which adorns parks and buildings in Philadelphia.

Burlington County Inventory and Survey of Historic, Architectural and Cultural Resources (M/fiche F144.B87).

Inventory and description of historic buildings and sites in Burlington County.

Camden Historic Survey (REF NA735.C3C36 1982).

Inventory and description of historic buildings and sites in Camden City. (Robeson has vol. 2 & 3; Vol. 1 available at the Camden County Historical Society).

Historic American Building Survey of New Jersey: Catalog of the Measured Drawings (REF NA730.N36H57 1977).

Catalog lists 834 structures and includes information on data available on the houses.

Selective Index to New Jersey Architectural Illustrations, 1876-1980 (M/FICHE 26).

Index to illustrations of New Jersey architecture in American periodicals.

ADAM, art, design, architecture, and media information gateway - http://adam.ac.uk/

ArtSource - http://www.uky.edu/Artsource/artsourcehome.html

 

Musee directory of museums by name, location, and type - http://www.musee-online.org/

National Gallery of Art: Index of American Design - http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/iad.htm

National Gallery of Art: the Collection - http://www.nga.gov/collection/collect.htm

National Museum of American Art - http://americanart.si.edu

Rodin Museum - http://www.rodinmuseum.org/

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - http://www.upenn.edu/museum/

Winterthur Museum - http://www.winterthur.org/

Web Wide Arts Resource - http://wwar.com/