This is a research guide for finding biographical information on artists in the Greenfield Library at the University of the Arts®. Artists is a broad topic that may include painters, illustrators, sculptors, printmakers, designers, architects, etc. Send any questions about this topic to the e-mail address at the end of this document.
SEE ALSO the Biographical Data on Visual Artists Ready-Reference Guide for a list of specific reference books.
Searching the Catalog
BY SUBJECT
Begin your search with the LAST NAME of the artist as a subject heading. (e.g. last name first: Degas, Edgar)
If your results are not satisfactory, try searching BROADER terms associated with your artist such as gender, nationality, occupation:
- Subdivide the type of artist by the term biography. (e.g. women artists--biography)
- Subdivide the type of artist by country: France, Germany, Italy, United States, etc.(e.g. artists--germany)
- Further subdivide by the term biography.(e.g. artists--germany--biography)
When searching by subject in the online catalog, be careful to follow the exact spelling and form of the subject headings. These subject headings are standard and are used in most libraries.
BY AUTHOR
Continue your search with the LAST NAME of the artist as an author. (e.g. last name first: Degas, Edgar) In the library catalog, the artist is considered an author of his work. A book of Cezanne's painting will show him as the author. (e.g. last name first: Degas, Edgar)
If you don't get ANY results from your subject or author searches, search the LAST NAME of the artist as a KEYWORD.
Using Research Tools
PRINT INDEX
- The PRINT INDEXES below contain a list of artists arranged alphabetically. A letter code next to the name refers you to a title list in the front section. This title contains biographical information about the artist. If the library owns this title, it may be indicated by a written call number. If the index is not marked, check the title of the book yourself in the online catalog.
Havlice, Patricia Pate. Index to artistic biography. 2nd supplement.
Scarecrow Press, 2002
REF 709.22016 H299i 2 vols.
Artist biographies master index.
1st ed. Gale Research Co., c1986.
REF 709.22016 Ar78
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A good BIBLIOGRAPHY leads you to writings about an artist or topic, thus saving you time. Always check the year written and the scope. Bibliographies may appear in book form, or at the end of a journal article or encyclopedia entry.
EXAMPLES:
Pyle, Howard. Howard Pyle: his life--his work: a comprehensive bibliography and pictorial record of Howard Pyle: illustrator, author, teacher, father of American illustration, America's foremost illustrator.
1st ed. Oak Knoll Press ; Wilmington, Del.: Delaware Art Museum, 2004.
REF 709.24 P993d 2004 v.1&2
Freitag, Wolfgang M. Art books: a basic bibliography of monographs on artists.
2nd ed. Garland Pub., 1997.
REF 709.22016 F884a 1997
Puniello, Francoise S. Abstract expressionist women painters: an annotated bibliography: Elaine de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Ethel Schwabacher.
Scarecrow Press, c1996.
REF 759.13082016 P969a
The Grove Dictionary of Art. Paul Cezanne bibliography
REF 703 D561t vol. 6, pp. 375-376 or view the online version.
Finding Articles
- PERIODICAL INDEXES are research tools that allow you to search for articles in journals. For biographical data, it is more efficient to find a relevant reference source than to browse journal articles.
Search the library's Electronic Indexes and Databases by TYPE or by SUBJECT. For biographical data on artists, check out:
ARTBIBLIOGRAPHIES MODERN
THE GROVE DICTIONARY OF ART (we also have the print version in 34 volumes: REF 703 D561t)
WILSON DATABASES
Use the LAST NAME of the artist as the search term. (e.g. last name first: Degas, Edgar) Check the database you are using so that you will search the descriptors or subject terms in the record. Also, use the BROWSE feature to see if your term is in the database.
Be aware that there are different ways to find an article once you pull up a citation in the index:
- Check to see if our library holds the journal title. Look up the journal title in the CATALOG and check our holdings.
- See if there is a link in the index to a full-text article online and e-mail it to yourself.
- See what OTHER LIBRARIES in the area hold the journal.
- Use INTERLIBRARY LOAN to request materials not owned by the UArts Libraries.
Subject Guide List
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Send questions or remarks about this page to mcastaldi@uarts.edu, Reference Librarian.
Last updated 6/7/2007 mlc
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