Art History

1. Library Catalog - Find Books, Media and Pamphlets

PCC's online catalog is a database of books, media, pamphlets and course reserves located in the library's collection. To find resources in the library by subject, you will need a call number which is based on the Dewey Decimal Classification System and leads you to the specific item on the shelf. To find the call number, use the library catalog.  It is helpful to know the Dewey Decimal Classification numbers for art.

700s  The Arts                  740   Drawing
709    Art History              750   Painting
720    Architecture            760   Prints
730    Sculpture                770   Photography

Basic Search

Use the Basic Search to look for an item using its exact subject heading, title or author's name (last, first).

To find information about a person, use Basic Search by subject.
To find information on a topic, use Basic Search by subject.

To search by subject, select 'Subject Search', then type in the subject heading.

Examples of subject headings:

  • Art -- History
  • Art, Modern -- 20th century -- History
  • Art, Renaissance
  • Art, Ancient
  • Art, Greek -- History

Check related subjects too:

  • Classical antiquities
  • Architecture
  • Sculpture
  • Pottery
  • Bass-relief
  • Michelangelo, Buonorrotti, 1475-1564

To search by title, select 'Title Search', then type in the first few words of the title. Skip the first word of the title if it is an article, e.g. 'a', 'an' or 'the'.

To search by author, select 'Author Search', then type in the author's last name, then first name, e.g. 'Gardner, Helen'.

Advanced Search

If Basic Search is unsuccessful use Advanced Search to combine topics.

Use the KEYWORD Search to look for an item using part of the title or to combine topics:
To search by keyword, type in the words you want to search for then select from the menu whether you want to search for ALL THE WORDS, ANY OF THE WORDS (e.g., greek or greece), or the WORDS AS A PHRASE (e.g., pop art). You can also use the KEYWORD search to combine topics.

Examples of combined searches:

Search for: greece greek
[any of these words],
Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]
AND
Search for: sculpture vases [any of these words],
Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]

Search for: pop art [as a phrase], Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]
AND
Search for: 1960s sixties
[any of these],
Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]

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2. Reference Books

Basically, there are two kinds of reference books: general resources, which are broad in scope and deal with all fields; and specialized resources, which deal with specific disciplines such as Art History. The titles cited below are only a representative sample of many specialized reference books that are available in the library.

Specialized Encyclopedias

  • Atlas of Western Art History   REF 700.223 S 1
  • The Bulfinch Guide to Art History   REF 703 B 3
  • Dictionary of the Arts: Movements, Terms, People   REF 703 D 1
  • The Dictionary of Art   REF 703 D 2
  • Encyclopedia of World Art   REF 703 E 1
  • McGraw Hill Dictionary of Art   REF 703 M 4
  • The Oxford Companion to Western Art    REF 703 O 1-3
  • Art : the World of Art, From Aboriginal to American Pop, Renaissance Masters to Postmodernism   REF 709 A 8
  • The Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Architecture   REF 709.38 G 1
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3. Databases and Indexes - Find Articles

  • Start by selecting Databases by Subject (http://www.pasadena.edu/library/dbsubject.htm) and clicking on the "Art and Music" category.
  • ArtStor  More than 300,000 digital images covering many time periods and cultures. Documents the fields of architecture, painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, and design.
  • Oxford Art Online Reference resource for all aspects of the visual arts from prehistory to the 1990s.
  • JStor JSTOR Arts & Sciences III is a full text database focused on the arts and humanities. It includes titles from language, literature, music, film studies, folklore, performing arts, religion, and the history and study of art and architecture.  Journal titles include: American Art, Art Bulletin, Art Journal, Burlington Magazine, Leonardo, Master Drawings, Metropolitan Museum Journal, Oxford Art Journal, etc.

    Use Advanced Search option to limit by discipline.. choose Art and Art History

  • Proquest Direct  click on the link "Databases Selected", clear all databases, then select:  Arts Module.  In the Advanced Search (more options section) you may want to select "document type" arts/exhibits review.    Titles include… American Artist, Art in America, Art Journal, Art Forum, etc.
  • Biography Resource Center  This database includes biographical articles from reference books and periodicals.   Search by artist name or use biographical facts search and select occupation - artist, painter, sculptor, etc.
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4. Resources on the World Wide Web

Finding reliable information on the web can be difficult.
Use the Librarians' Index to the Internet www.lii.org or see recommended websites below.

Art History Resources on the Web
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html
Exploring Themes in American Art  

http://www.nga.gov/education/american/aasplash.htm

Metropolitan Museum of Art 

http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

National Gallery of Art
http://www.nga.gov/
The Artchive

http://www.artchive.com/

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last updated: 12/04/2008 by P. Johnson revision #4