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Edens Library Resources
for Art and Art History



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Selected Reference Books

Great for statistics, definitions, a general overview of the topic...

  • General
  • 20th Century, Modern, Contemporary
  • Sculpture
  • Architecture
  • Photography
  • Symbols, Iconography, Mythology
  • Women in Art
  • Decorative Arts
  • Ethnic, Cultural, Regional
  • American
  • Careers in Art
  • Miscellaneous
  • Top of Page
    General
  • Art History
  • Ref N 5300 S923 2002 (v.1-2)
  • Art Index
  • INDEX Z 5937 .A78 (Jan. 1929-Oct. 1996)
  • The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms
  • Ref N 33 C575 2001
  • The Dictionary of Art
  • Ref N 31 D5 2002 (v.1-34)
  • Dictionary of Christian Art
  • Ref BV 150 A66 1994
  • The Encyclopedia of Visual Art
  • Ref N 31 .E5 1983 (v.1-10)
  • Encyclopedia of World Art
  • Ref N 31 .E533 (v.1-17)
  • Facts on File Encyclopedia of Art
  • Ref N 31 .F33 (v.1-5)
  • History of Art
  • Ref N 5300 J3 2000
  • Index of Artists
  • Ref N 40 .M3
  • Index to Artistic Biography
  • Ref N 40 .H38
  • McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art
  • Ref N 33 .M23 (v.1-5)
  • The Oxford Companion to Art
  • Ref N 33 .O9
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Art
  • Ref N 33 O93 2001
  • Penguin Dictionary of Art and Artists
  • Ref N 31 M8 1997
  • Schirmer Encyclopedia of Art
  • Ref N 31 L3 2002 (v.1-4)
  • World Painting Index
  • Ref ND 45 .H38
  • The Yale Dictionary of Art & Artists
  • Ref N 33 L353 2000
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    20th Century, Modern, Contemporary
  • Art in the Modern Era: A Guide to Styles, Schools, & Movements 1860 to the Present
  • Ref N 6490 D415 2002
  • Artspeak: A Guide to Contemporary Ideas, Movements, and Buzzwords, 1945 to the Present
  • Ref N 6490 A87 1997
  • Contemporary Artists
  • Ref N 6490 .C6567 1989
  • Contemporary Photographers
  • Ref TR 139 C664 1995
  • Contemporary Women Artists
  • Ref N 8354 C66 1999
  • Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists
  • Ref N 6512 C854 1994
  • Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion
  • Ref PS 153 N5 H245 2003 (v.1-3)
  • Latin American Women Artists of the United States: The Works of 33 Twentieth-Century Women
  • Ref N 6538 H58 H46 1999
  • Outsider, Self Taught and Folk Art Annotated Bibliography: Publications and Films of the 20th Century
  • Ref Z 5956 O85 S45 2002
  • Phaidon Dictionary of Twentieth Century Art
  • Ref N 6490 .P46
  • The Prestel Dictionary of Art and Artists in the 20th Century
  • Ref N 6490 P72 2000
  • Twentieth-Century Artists on Art: An Index to Artists' Writings, Statements, and Interviews
  • Ref NX 456 .R59 1985
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Sculpture
  • The Encyclopedia of Sculpture
  • Ref NB 198 E53 2004 (v.1-3)
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Architecture
  • African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary 1865-1945
  • Ref NA 736 A47 2004
  • Building The World: An Encyclopedia of the Great Engineering Projects in History
  • Ref T56 I44 2006 (v.1-2)
  • The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture
  • Ref NA 215 A7513 2003
  • Encyclopaedia of Architecture
  • Ref NA 31 .Y37 1986
  • Encyclopedia of 20th Century Architecture
  • Ref NA 680 E495 2004 (v.1-3)
  • A History of American Architecture: Buildings in Their Cultural and Technological Context
  • Ref NA 705 G35 1999
  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects
  • Ref NA 40 .M25 1982 (v.1-4)
  • Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
  • Ref NA 31 F55 1999
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Photography
  • Contemporary Photographers
  • Ref TR 139 C664 1995
  • The Photography Encyclopedia
  • Ref TR 9 M39 1999
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Symbols, Iconography, Mythology
  • Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art
  • Ref N 7560 .H34 1974b
  • Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art
  • Ref N 7560 E53 1998 (v.1-2)
  • The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts
  • Ref NX 650 .M9 R45 1993 (v.1-2)
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Women in Art
  • Contemporary Women Artists
  • Ref N 8354 C66 1999
  • Dictionary of Women Artists
  • Ref N 8354 D53 1997 (v.1-2)
  • An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West
  • Ref N 8214.5 U6 K68 1998
  • Encyclopedia of Women in Religious Art
  • Ref N 7793 W65 A66 1996
  • Latin American Women Artists of the United States: The Works of 33 Twentieth-Century Women
  • Ref N 6538 H58 H46 1999
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Decorative Arts
  • Encyclopedia of Interior Design
  • Ref NK 1165 .E48 1997 (v.1-2)
  • The Oxford Companion to the Decorative Arts
  • Ref NK 30 .O93 1985
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Ethnic, Cultural, Regional
  • African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary 1865-1945
  • Ref NA 736 A47 2004
  • Encyclopedia of American Folk Art
  • Ref NK 805 E6 2004
  • The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture
  • Ref NA 215 A7513 2003
  • An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West
  • Ref N 8214.5 U6 K68 1998
  • Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion
  • Ref PS 153 N5 H245 2003 (v.1-3)
  • Latin American Women Artists of the United States: The Works of 33 Twentieth-Century Women
  • Ref N 6538 H58 H46 1999
  • Outsider, Self Taught and Folk Art Annotated Bibliography: Publications and Films of the 20th Century
  • Ref Z 5956 O85 S45 2002
  • St. James Guide to Black Artists
  • Ref N 40 S78 1997
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    American
  • African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary 1865-1945
  • Ref NA 736 A47 2004
  • Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists
  • Ref N 6512 C854 1994
  • Encyclopedia of American Folk Art
  • Ref NK 805 E6 2004
  • An Encyclopedia of Women Artists of the American West
  • Ref N 8214.5 U6 K68 1998
  • Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion
  • Ref PS 153 N5 H245 2003 (v.1-3)
  • A History of American Architecture: Buildings in Their Cultural and Technological Context
  • Ref NA 705 G35 1999
  • Latin American Women Artists of the United States: The Works of 33 Twentieth-Century Women
  • Ref N 6538 H58 H46 1999
  • Who's Who in American Art
  • Ref N 6536 .W5 (1966-present)
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Careers in Art
  • Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market
  • Ref N 8600 .A75 2001
  • How To Survive & Prosper As An Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul
  • Ref N 6505 M46 2001
  • Peterson's Graduate Programs in the Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
  • Ready Ref L 901 P443
    Top of Page | Top of Reference Books

    Miscellaneous
  • Art Information and the Internet: How to Find It, How to Use It
  • Ref N 59 J66 1999
  • Encyclopedia of the Renaissance
  • Ref CB 361 E52 1999 (v.1-6)
  • Illustrators of Children's Books
  • Ref NC 965 .M59 (+suppl.)
  • Index to Illustrations
  • Ref NC 996 .E62
    Top of Page| Top of Reference Books



    Suggested Subject Headings and Location of Books in Our Library

    Search the Library Catalog by keyword, subject, title, or author. The library offers books and other materials on a variety of Art and Art History subjects, including:

    Aesthetics
    Afro-American art
    Afro-American women artists
    Architecture
    Art
    Art -- History
    Art -- Italy
    Art, Modern
    Art museums
    Art, Prehistoric
    Art, Renaissance
    Art -- Study and teaching
    Art -- Technique
    Artists
    Ceramics
    Color in art
    Commercial art
    Decorative arts
    Drawing
    Figure Drawing
    Graphic arts
    Human figure in art
    Painting
    Photography
    Prints -- Technique
    Sculpture
    Women artists

    ...Or, you can browse the following sections in the library's General Collection and Reference areas:

    AM -- Museums
    N -- Visual Arts (General)
    NA -- Architecture
    NB -- Sculpture
    NC -- Drawing, Design
    ND -- Painting
    NE -- Print Media
    NK -- Decorative Arts, Applied Arts
    NX -- Arts in General
    TR -- Photography
    TT -- Handicrafts
    Z -- Books, Book Industries (as in Graphic Arts, Bookmaking)

    Top of Page

    Databases for Research

    Take me to the Arts and Humanities Databases page.


    *For additional databases, see the Databases for Research page.

    Top of Page

    Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)

    The following periodicals, held by Edens Library, are excellent resources for exploring current topics in Art and Art History. Check the Library Catalog for holdings.

    Afterimage
    American Artist
    American Craft
    Aperture
    Art Education
    Art in America
    Art Journal
    Art Papers Magazine
    Artforum International
    Artifacts (S.C. Arts Commission)
    (Keep current issue only)
    ARTnews
    Arts and Activities
    Ceramics Monthly
    Communication Arts
    Graphis
    New Art Examiner
    School Arts
    Sculpture
    Step-by-Step Graphics
    Studies in Art Education
    Woman's Art Journal


    Top of Page

    Recommended Internet Sites for Art and Art History

  • Search Engines
  • Images and Research
  • General
  • Medium-Specific
  • Site-Specific
  • Teaching Art
  • Top of Page | Return to the Sites by Subject index
    Search Engines
    (For additional search engines, see the World Wide Web resources page)
    ADAM: The Gateway to Art, Design, Architecture, and Media Information on the Internet
    "ADAM, the Art, Design, Architecture & Media Information Gateway, is a searchable catalogue of Internet resources that have been carefully selected and catalogued by professional librarians for the benefit of the UK Higher Education community."
    Artcyclopedia: The Fine Art Search Engine
    "Our mission is to become the definitive and most effective guide to museum-quality fine art on the Internet"
    Top of Page | Top of Internet Sites

    Images and Research — General
    Also, see Digital Images and Collections for links to several web sites containing thousand of digital images.
    Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
    "The Archives of American Art, founded in 1954 and a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution since 1970, provides researchers with access to the largest collection of documents on the history of the visual arts in the United States. The collection now totals more than thirteen million items, consisting of the papers of artists, dealers, critics, art historians, curators, administrators and the records of art dealers, museums, and other art-related businesses, institutions, and organizations. . . . Thousands of researchers a year have access to letters, diaries, sketchbooks, photographs, business records, journals, and other documentation encompassing American art from Colonial times to the present day, representing artists of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries as equally as contemporary artists. They reveal our nation's cultural diversity, illustrating the rich influences of African, Asian Pacific, and Latin countries, among others, and provide rare insights into the sensitivity and perspectives that artists bring to their own times and environments."
    Art History Resources on the Web (Chris Witcombe, Sweet Briar College)
    NYPL Digital Gallery
    "NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 275,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more."
    Prints & Photographs Online Catalog / Library of Congress
    "The Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) provides access through group or item records to about 65% of the Division's holdings, as well as to some images found in other units of the Library of Congress. Many of the catalog records are accompanied by digital images--about one million digital images in all."
    The Pulitzer Prize
    "The Who's Who of Pulitzer Prize Winners is more than simply a roster of names and biographical data. It is a list of people in journalism, letters, and music whose accomplishments enable researchers to trace the historical evolution of their respective fields and the development of American society." - Seymour Topping, 'Pulitzer Prizes History'
    Women Artists in History - Showcases the work of women artists down through the centuries
    Top of Page | Top of Internet Sites

    Images and Research — Medium-Specific
    Digital Learning Center (Kodak) - "A collection of information, tips and techniques on Digital Imaging"
    Focus on Photography (Fodor's)
    "How to Take Travel Pictures Like a Pro. . . . With the assistance of author and photographer Jeff Wignall, Fodor's has put together an invaluable guide to shooting great travel pictures: Nearly 100 easy-to-follow tips, with accompanying photos, covering every aspect of travel photography."
    Great Buildings Online
    "More than 800 great buildings from around the world and across history are illustrated at this web site, with photographic images, architectural drawings, discussion, bibliography, architect info, and live 3D walkthrough computer models."
    Top of Page | Top of Internet Sites

    Images and Research — Site-Specific
    The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Official Web Site) .
    Trajan's Column (McMaster Univ., Ontario, Canada)
    "This is a site for exploring the Column of Trajan as a sculptural monument. The core of the site is a searchable database of over 500 images focusing on various aspects of the design and execution of the column's sculptural decoration. These images (slides and drawings) were generated by and for sculptor Peter Rockwell, over the course of his study of Roman stone-carving practices. The aim of this site is to make these images available to the widest possible public, in a form that can contribute both to ongoing study by specialists and to enjoyment and appreciation of the monument by the general public." .
    Top of Page | Top of Internet Sites

    Teaching Art
    (Also see the Teaching Art links on the Education subject guide)
    Art Education and ArtEdventures from Sanford and A Lifetime of Color
    "Art products and resources for creative individuals from beginner to advanced" .
    Art Kids Rule!
    "The net's best place for playing, learning, & creating! ... Fun Activities, Resources & Tutorials for Kids, Grown-ups & Teachers" .
    The @rt room (School of Art and Art History, Univ. of Florida)
    "Like art rooms in schools everywhere, this virtual art room is meant to be a "special" place. Within its "walls," kids are offered opportunities to create, to discover, to imagine, to invent, to learn, and to make their thoughts become things. In short, the @rt room is a place for kids to explore their inner and outer worlds. The @rt room is designed around the idea of "activity" centers that encourage kids to create, to learn and to explore new ideas, places and things on their own." .
    Art Safari (MoMA Learning)
    "An adventure in looking for children and adults." ... "Art Safari invites children to explore the painting and sculpture collection of The Museum of Modern Art. This site encourages children to learn about art by looking for animals in works of art. Children can also create their own artwork and print it or save on the computer." .
    ArtsEdge: The National Arts and Education Information Network (The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts)
    "ARTSEDGE supports the place of arts education at the center of the curriculum through the creative and appropriate uses of technology. ARTSEDGE helps educators to teach in, through and about the arts." .
    Arts Lesson Plans (The Educator's Reference Desk)
    The Imagination Factory
    "There is no machinery at The Imagination Factory, and smokestacks don't pollute the air. Instead, we teach children and their caregivers creative ways to recycle by making art." .
    The Incredible Art Department .
    KinderART
    "KinderArt ® is the largest collection of free art lessons on the Internet. What began in 1996 as a few helpful ideas for teachers and parents, has since grown into an enormous collection of resources featuring over 800 free lesson plans. A truly interactive experience, KinderArt provides an opportunity for parents, educators, artists, students and kids (of course) to have fun while exchanging ideas, finding information, conducting research and learning new things ... all in one place." .
    National Art Education Association (NAEA)
    Why: "To promote art education through Professional Development, Service, Advancement of Knowledge, and Leadership. NAEA is a non-profit, educational organization." . . . Who: "Over 22,000 art educators from every level of instruction: early childhood, elementary, intermediate, secondary, college and university, administration, museum education, lifelong learning . . . also publishers, manufacturers and suppliers of art materials, parents, students, retired teachers, arts councils, schools . . . anyone and everyone concerned about quality art education in our schools." .
    Top of Page | Top of Internet Sites

    Return to the Sites by Subject index
    Return to the Resource Guides page

    Page last modified by Sarah Hood
    Date: 2/26/07
    [Columbia College]
    [Edens Library, Columbia South Carolina]