Overview of art and art history
Use this guide to perform background research to refine a research topic, confirm terminology, find biographical information and examples of works, styles, or movements, and get a general understanding before finding books and articles to support a research project.
Getting started with academic research | Overview of art and art history | Recommended databases | Image resources
Oxford Art Online
Oxford Art Online
Oxford Art Online is a gateway to Grove Art Online and other Oxford art reference resources (Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, and Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms) in one location. References are linked via Get VText.
Art and Architecture encyclopedias from Oxford Reference Online
Art and Architecture encyclopedias from Oxford Reference Online
Search or browse across ten subject encyclopedias and dictionaries with over 25,000 entries. References are linked via Get VText.
Art and Architecture Thesaurus from Getty
Art and Architecture Thesaurus from Getty
The AAT is a structured vocabulary of around 34,000 concepts, including 131,000 terms, descriptions, bibliographic citations, and other information relating to fine art, architecture, decorative arts, archival materials, and material culture. Use terms located here for searches in other databases.
Union List of Artist Names from Getty
Union List of Artist Names from Getty
The ULAN is a structured vocabulary currently containing around 293,000 names and other information about artists. Names in ULAN may include given names, pseudonyms, variant spellings, names in multiple languages, and names that have changed over time (e.g., married names). Among these names, one is flagged as the preferred name.
Gale Biography in Context
Gale Biography in Context
Biography in Context provides access to over 600,000 biographies in HTML sourced from reference works, news reports, magazines and academic journals. It provides links to related websites, images, audio, and video clips.
- Patrick Tomlin
- Head: Art + Architecture Library
- (540) 231-9272
- tomlin@vt.edu
-
100A Cowgill Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Legend
Resource is restricted to current Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff. Use Off Campus Sign In if not on the campus network.
Resource is licensed for Virginia Tech alumni access. Use Alumni Library Portal Sign In to access. Freely accessible database, available to anyone without restriction Sponsored by VIVA, the Virtual Library of Virginia.
Mobile interface available, see description for link. Screencast tutorial available, icon linked to list. Contents of this database are in Summon.
Resource provides Get VText links to access full text.
Resource provides open access publishing opportunities and open access publications.
Resource provides self archiving opportunities and open access documents.