Sketch of Maag Library Maag Library Resources for Art History

Last updated October 22, 2002.

Reference Resources | Locating Books | Locating Articles | World Wide Web Resources

Reference Resources
Use these sources for background information or to get an understanding of major concepts.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Classified Directory of Artists' Signatures and Symbols Ref. N 45 .C36 1987
  • Signatures and symbols used by American artists
  • Browse N 45
The Dictionary of Art Ref. N 31 .D5 1996
  • A comprehensive encyclopedia (34 vols.) arranged by topic from A to Z. Topics include artist biographies, sites with an artistic tradition (including arqueological sites), styles, schools, groups, movements, forms, themes, materials and techniques, and patronage.
  • Browse N 31
Dictionary of the Arts Ref. NX 80 .D53 1994
  • Defines terms, brief articles on movements and people for the fine and perfroming arts and literature.
  • Browse NX 80
The Encyclopedia of Visual Art Ref. N 25 .E53 1983
  • Volumes 1-5 cover the history of Art by period. Volumes 6-9 include biographies of artists. Volume 10 consists of special studies, comparative studies, museums and galleries and an index.
  • Browse N 25
Encyclopedia of World Art Ref. N 31 .E533
  • A 17-volume encyclopedia with brief articles on topics arranged from A to Z. Includes many illustrations, some in color.
  • Browse N 31
Great Events from History: Arts and Culture Series Ref. NX 456 .G72 1993
  • Articles in chronological order exploring twentieth-century (1897-1992) events and people in the arts. Gives summary and impact of the event.
  • Browse NX 456
The Illustrated Dictionary of Art and Artists Ref. N 5300 .I45 1984
  • Brief biographies of artists, articles on movements, groups, techniques and patrons of Western Art.
  • Browse N 5300
Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms: A Handbook for the Artist and Art Lover Ref. N 33 .R49 1984
  • Gives visual examples of techniques or styles of art, primarily for painting and sculpture.
  • Browse N 33
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art Ref. N33 .M23
  • A 5-volume encylopedia with brief articles on such topics as artist biographies, "styles, periods, cities, buildings, museums, and definitions." [Preface]
  • Browse N 33
The Oxford Companion to Art Ref. N 33 .O9
  • An introduction to the visual arts for the non-specialist. Arranged by topic.
  • Browse N 33
Timelines of the Arts and Literature Ref. NX447.5 .B76 1994
  • A chronology of the major developments in cultural history.
  • Browse NX 447.5
For assistance in locating additional resources, see Locating Books, below. Top of Page

By Style or Era

Contemporary Masterworks Ref. N 6490 .C65675 1991
  • Explores 450 masterpieces of art, architecture and photography, most produced since 1945. Includes a photo of the art work, catalog record, a critical essay and bibliographical references.
  • Browse N 6490
The Encyclopedia of Art Deco Ref. N 6494 .A7 E53 1988
  • "Guide to a decorative style from 1920 to 1939." (cover)
  • Browse N 6494
Larousse Encyclopedia of Byzantine and Medieval Art Ref. N 5970 .H813
  • Discusses art forms from the first centuries of the Christian era through the Gothic Middle Ages.
  • Browse N 5970
The Penguin Companion to the Arts in the Twentieth Century Ref. NX 456 .M4 1985
  • Discusses architecture, painting, sculpture, music, theatre, film, fiction and poetry. Each section includes a brief chronology and overview of the genre, then examines major personnages.
  • Browse NX 456
Renaissance Art: A Topical Dictionary Ref. N 6370 .E27 1987
  • Explores topics represented in the works of northern European and Italian artists from the fourteenth to the 16th centuries.
  • Browse N 6370
For assistance in locating additional resources, see Locating Books, below. Top of Page
Directories and Catalogs
 
Master Paintings from the Butler Institute of American Art  Ref. ND 205 .B83 1979
  • 175 color plates of the Museum's masterworks, accompanied by critical essays.
  • Browse ND 205
The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue  Ref. N 1070 .A6955 1995
  • Holdings of the National Gallery, London. Gives a short history of the gallery then lists works, with illustrations, alphabetically by artist name. Includes a bibliography, index by inventory number and a subject index.
  • Browse N 1070
The Official Museum Directory  Ref. AM 10 .A2 O4
  • Lists institutions by state, then city. Includes an index to personnel and indexes to institutions by name, category and collection.
  • Browse AM 10
Selections from the Permanent Collection  Ref. ND 205 .B83 1979
Sixty Years of Collecting American Art: An Index to the Permanent Collection  Ref. N 860 .A63 1979
For assistance in locating additional resources, see Locating Books, below. Top of Page
Biographical Sources
 
Search: an index such as:

Or

Browse the following biographical dictionaries:
For assistance in locating additional resources, see Maag Library's guide to Biography Information Sources. Top of Page
Locating Books
 
Search: MaagNet (the online catalog)
  • For search tips and information see Using MaagNet.
  • Not sure of a topic? Here are a few Library of Congress Subject Headings to get you started:
    • Art — History
    • Art, Ancient
    • Art, Classical
    • Art, Medieval
    • Art, Modern — 17th-18th centuries — History
    • Art, Modern — 19th Century — History
    • Art, Modern — 20th Century — History
    • Art Nouveau
    • Classical Antiquities
Browse:  the collections
Resources for Art History may be found throughout the library:  in the Reference Room, in the General and Oversize Collections, in the Serials/Microforms area and in Government Documents (see Building Guide).
  • Use the following sections of the Library of Congress Classes for Fine Arts to browse the shelves for books and periodicals. (For a listing of what the initial letters of LC Classes stand for, see the Library of Congress Classification Outline).
    • N 5300 - N7418 — Visual Arts. History.
    • NA 190 - NA 1555.5 — Architecture. History.
    • NB 60 - NB 1115 — Sculpture. History.
    • NC 50 - NC 266 — History of Drawing.
    • ND 49 - ND 813 — Painting. History.
    • NE 400 - NE 773 — Print Media. History.
    • NK 600 - NK 800 — Decorative Arts. History.
    • NK 1175 - NK 1498 — Decoration and Ornament. Design. History.
    • NK 1700 - NK 2138 — Interior Decoration. General. History.
    • NX 440 - NK 632 — History of the Arts
  • Use the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) classification to locate items in the Government Documents Collection.
Search:  the OhioLINK Central Catalog  [combined catalogs of OhioLINK member libraries]

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Locating Articles
 
Search: Databases, Indexes and Abstracts
  • Search these resources by keyword or subject to find references to journal articles.
  • Alternately, use a Subject Cluster Search to search several databases at one time.
  • Journal articles may be available electronically or on the lower level of Maag Library. See Where to Start to Find Periodical Articles for an overview of how to find articles.

Browse or search: the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center
Locate: the Current Periodicals in Art for Maag Library
  • Use this list to browse the Current Periodicals (arranged by title) on the lower floor of Maag Library.

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Databases, Indexes and Abstracts
 
Full Text Selected full-text articles available online.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Remote Access Available Remote access available.
Current YSU or OhioLINK students, faculty and staff only. See Connecting from Home for more information).
Print Resource Print source.
Available in library only.

Art History Resources

For a complete list of databases for Art, see Ohiolink Databases--Art and Architecture

Art Abstracts  1929 to present. Updated monthly. Full Text Remote Access Available
  • Index and abstracts for articles in art. Includes references to art reproductions used as ads or illustrations. Includes or has links to full text.
  • For assistance in searching, see Quick Tips or Ask a Librarian.
Art and Architecture Images Remote Access Available
  • Art and architecture images from commercial sources, plus contributions from OhioLINK institutions. Available only to students, faculty, and staff of OhioLINK institutions.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
Art and Architecture Images (world accessible) Remote Access Available
  • Art and architecture images contributed by OhioLINK institutions and in the public domain.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals   1977 to present. Updated daily. Remote Access Available
  • Index to articles in architecture and design.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
> Bibliography of the History of Art   vol(date) to date. Remote Access Available
  • Index to articles, books, and other materials in art history, covering European and American art from late antiquity to the present.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
Index to 19th-Century American Art Periodicals  vol(date) to date. Remote Access Available
  • Index to articles from 42 art journals published in 19th century U.S.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
SCIPIO: Art and Rare Book Sales Catalogs  vol(date) to date. Remote Access Available
  • Catalog of auction catalogs of art objects and rare books.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.

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Multi-disciplinary Sources
 
Academic Search Premier  On-campus access   Off campus access (Requires authentication) 1984 to date. Updated daily. Full Text Remote Access Available
  • A multidisciplinary database that indexes over 4300 periodicals and contains full text for over 3400 scholarly publications.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
Arts and Humanities CItation Index   1980 to present Full Text Remote Access Available
  • A multidisciplinary database that indexes over 4300 periodicals and contains full text for over 3400 scholarly publications.
  • For assistance in searching, use online help or Ask a Librarian.
Humanities Abstracts   1984 to present Full Text Remote Access Available
  • Includes references to journal articles in the humanities, including the arts.
  • For assistance in searching, see Quick Tips or Ask a Librarian.

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World Wide Web Resources for Art History
 
Art Museum Network
  • Includes links to over 200 of the world's museums with information on collections and exhibits. The Art Museum Image Consortium (AMICO) images are currently available to students, faculty and staff of OhioLINK institutions in the OhioLINK Digital Media Center--Art and Architecture (authentication required).
The Butler Institute of American Art
  • Calendar of events, current exhibitions, highlights of the collection for "America's Museum."
CultureFinder.com—Search for Visual Arts events and tickets
  • Search for cultural events, arts organizations. Browse by city or genre.
fineArt forum - art + technology netnews
  • Fine Arts internet magazine.
International Directory of Art Libraries
  • Searchable database of nearly 3000 libraries worldwide with significant art holdings.
Louvre Museum Official Website
  • History, collections, exhibitions of one of the earliest European art museums.
WebMuseum: Bienvenue! (Welcome from the curator)
  • Includes a collection of famous artworks, indexed by artist and by theme.
World Wide Arts Resources - The Definitive Arts and Culture Information Gateway

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Last updated October 22, 2002