Art+History

We all love art. . . but how do we find good information about it?

As always, you can start with [|wikipedia]. However, this is just like starting with any encyclopedia. Teachers and college professors expect you to go further and deeper in your research. Use wikipedia to understand your topic generally, then move on to bigger and better (and sometimes more accurate) things.

Like. . . [|Books] Check the MICDS library [|catalog] for books about your topic. We have an extensive collection of art and art history books, both in the general 700s and the Art section (look for the big A). If you are searching for a particular artist and cannot find a book on him or her, try broadening your search. Search for "Italian art" instead of Michelangelo, or "impressionism" instead of Monet. You can also try checking out the Resource Lists; there is one available, for example, on Egyptian Art. Ask Ms. Voss or Ms. Williamson for help if you cannot find any print sources. Typically, it just takes a little sleuthing to find something on a topic.

[|Databases] Your first stop should be [|Oxford Art Online]. This database contains much good reference information, like biographical information, subject overviews, and images. It offers more than a general encyclopedia because it is a subject-specific **art** resource. Make sure to check the "Related Content" tab to broaden your search and the "Cite" button to note MLA citation.

Next, you might want to try an article database like [|Gale Student Resource Center] for more specific information, like reviews or current information on showings of the artist's work.

Last, you should try [|JSTOR] for more scholarly and in-depth articles. Most of the articles in JSTOR are written by professors at universities, so the writing may be more advanced. Don't let this scare you away! Just take in what you can handle; you may find that you learn a lot!

You can also try looking at museum collections, like these local collections: St. Louis Art Museum Kemper Art Museum