- Reference Sources
- Library Catalogue
- Classification System
- Periodical Databases
- Periodicals
- Internet Sites
Art History is the study of the different periods and styles of art from pre-history to the present. Its scope includes the history of architecture, sculpture, painting and the applied arts, with an emphasis on how historical events and the evolution of ideas influenced the art of the time.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Reference materials such as handbooks, encyclopedias and directories provide background information and overviews of historical topics, quick facts, and references to further works. Some recommended titles are:
- Art Images for College Teaching
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
- Ref N 31 D5 1996 (v. 1-34) The Dictionary of Art
- N 33 G762 2000 The Grove Dictionary of Art: From Renaissance to Impressionism
- N 33 G763 2000 The Grove Dictionary of Art: From Rembrandt to Vermeer
- N 33 G764 2000 The Grove Dictionary of Art: From David to Ingres
- N 33 G765 2000 The Grove Dictionary of Art: From Monet to Cezanne
- N 33 G766 2000 The Grove Dictionary of Art: From Expressionism to Post-Modernism
- Ref N33 M37 1991 The HarperCollins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques
- Ref N 33 O9 The Oxford Companion to Art
- Ref N40 I55 1990 International Dictionary of Art and Artsts
- N5300 T5313 2003 History of Art
- Ref N 6490 C 6567 Contemporary Artists
- Ref N 6548 M28 A Dictionary of Canadian Artists
- NA 2000 C493 2007 A Global History of Architecture
- Ref ND 35 L3713 The Larousse Dictionary of Painters
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LIBRARY CATALOGUE
Search the library catalogue for books and audiovisual materials. Enter the Subject Heading ART HISTORY for a list of titles. References that describe a geographic, historical or cultural context are found by searching ART, followed by a descriptive term, such as ART CANADIAN, ART MEDIEVAL or ART ASIAN. Some headings may be further subdivided by century, e.g. ART, MODERN 20TH CENTURY. You can also search for the names of art styles, such as ART NOUVEAU or POSTMODERNISM. Other worthwhile headings are:
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AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS
The library has an extensive collection of slides depicting well-known examples of art, specifically paintings, sculpture and architecture, located under N5301 S65 in the general collection. There are also videocassette series exploring the history of art such as Art of the Western World; videos on individual artists, such as Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Kathe Kollwitz, Andy Warhol, etc., or particular ones dealing with themes in art or styles (e.g. The Hero as Artist, Highland Maya, etc.)
Connect to the Library Catalogue
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
General materials in Art History are shelved in the N classification section. To assist you in browsing the library collection, try the following areas:
- N 31 - 5309 Art History (in general)
- N 5310 - 5899 Primitive Art
- N 5900 - N 6470 Historical periods of art
- N 6500 - N 6539 American Art
- N 6540 - N 6569 Canadian Art
- N 6570 - N 6900 European Art
- NA Architecture
- NB Sculpture
- NC Drawing and Design
- ND Painting
- NE Printmaking
- NK Decorative and Folk Arts
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The most relevant titles for Art History are:
Art Index - for article citations on the Arts and Art related subjects in academic journals.
Humanities Index - for humanities related article citations in academic journals.
RGAB (Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature) - for summaries of general interest articles from popular magazines
CBCA (Canadian Business and Current Affairs) - for popular and academic full-text articles and article citations from Canadian sources
Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost) - for citations, abstracts and full-text articles from over 1700 interdisciplinary periodicals
CPI.Q (Canadian Periodical Index) - for popular and academic full-text articles and article citations from Canadian sources including the Globe & Mail
Canadian Newsstand Pacific - for full-text coverage of selected Canadian newspapers including the Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Province, the Times Colonist, the National Post and the North Shore News
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PERIODICALS
The library subscribes to a number of periodicals on Art related subjects. When you have searched a database and found a citation to an article on your topic, use the CapilanoU Periodical Locator to see if the Library has that particular title in print or full-text online.
INTERNET SITES
Try these recommended Web sites for information on Art History topics
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