Welcome to the Art History Subject Guide
The StMU Library is here to support you with your academic research needs. These subject guides are curated to provide you with the information you need to get started in your course.
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This guide is an excellent starting point for research, but please contact us if you can't find what you are looking for. We're happy to assist you by email, phone a virtual meeting or, if you're near the Library, stop by for a visit.
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Books, journals, and databases help you locate background information, peer-reviewed articles and reference resources.
The web is a goldmine if you know where to look. We've done the mining for you to compile online resources that will make your work easier.
Below are some suggested databases for Art History.
Databases allow you to search collections of journals, articles, books, topic reviews, evidence-based summaries and drug information. StMU databases include Core Databases which are curated collections focusing on a specific subject area and Multidisciplinary Databases which provide broad subject coverage in all areas of undergraduate study.
This is a significant online resource for teaching and research on Canadian Art and includes more than 62,000 images, 800 media clips and 3,000 texts by over 850 prominent Canadian visual, media and performance artists, graphic designers, writers and curators; and several projects documenting artist groups, art organizations and events.
Covering all major academic disciplines, Academic Search Elite is a rich resource spanning a broad stretch of academic subjects with thousands of full-text journals and abstracted and indexed journals.
The Premium Collection is MUSE’s foremost collection of high quality, peer reviewed, interdisciplinary journals in the humanities and social sciences.
Films On Demand is a streaming video service containing outstanding educational programs. Many programs from the History Channel, Biography Channel, BBC, PBS and other news channels are included in this collection.
This collection includes documentaries, animations, experimental films, fiction and interactive works. It showcases films that take a stand on issues of global importance that matter to Canadians—stories about the environment, human rights, international conflict, the arts and more
There is nothing wrong with using the internet. You can find very helpful resources on the web but you should know where and when is the right time to use the internet versus a Library database.
Don't hesitate to ask We're happy to assist you in person, by phone, or by MS Teams.
Anytime, anywhere StMU students, staff, and faculty have access to all of the online resources offsite. Simply enter your credentials.
Having problems with offsite access? Make sure you're selecting OpenAthens when given an option. Check out our guide on OpenAthens External Authentication for detailed support.
The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have access to the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Education journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web.
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The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Art History journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web. . eJOURNALS Immediate online access Browse the A-Z listing of all journals available to the StMU community. . NOT A STUDENT? No problem Full-text access is available on campus. . STAY CURRENT Alerts sent to your email The catalogue is designed with busy researchers in mind. Save searches and receive notifications when new resources become available.
The Art Bulletin publishes leading scholarship in the English language in all aspects of art history as practised in the academy, museums, and other institutions. From its founding in 1913, the journal has published, through rigorous peer review, scholarly articles and critical reviews of the highest quality in all areas and periods of the history of art. Articles take a variety of methodological approaches, from the historical to the theoretical.
Art History is an international, refereed journal that promotes world-class art-historical scholarship from across the globe. It publishes essays and critical reviews that foreground methodological self-reflexivity and highlights specific areas of concern and interest to the field through its special issue programme. It represents the diversity of the discipline at large and welcomes submissions from both established and emerging scholars. Art History stands at the forefront of disciplinary challenges and is a model of excellence for original and innovative research.
Art Journal, established in New York City in 1941, is a publication of the College Art Association of America. As a peer-reviewed, professionally moderated scholarly journal, its concentrations include: art practice, art production, art making, art history, visual studies, art theory, and art criticism.
Print resource: Periodical NX1 .C75
Critical Inquiry is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal devoted to the best critical thought in the arts and humanities.
There is nothing wrong with using journal articles you've found on the internet, there's plenty of high quality information out there. But, there are a few things you should know about Academic, Open Access, and Predatory journals before you start.
Reference Resources If you're new to a subject, reference resources are the perfect place to begin your research. Resources such as encyclopaedias, handbooks, dictionaries, atlases, and almanacs can provide a concise introduction to a subject and introduce the specialized keywords that will make locating secondary sources more efficient. Below you will find a listing of print and electronic reference resources to get you started. . eBOOKS Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere. . PRINT BOOKS Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. . OTHER LIBRARIES You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.
Print resource: REF N6946 .G76 2000
Print resource: REF N33 .P74 2000
Print resource: REF N33 .O93 1997
Print resource: REF N6370 .E27 1987
Print resource: REF N7793 .W65 A66 1998
Art History: A Study Guide
Print resource: General Reserves N5303 .M37 1987
Print resource: N33 .P54 1995
Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.
Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.
Below you will find a listing of the Library of Congress call ranges associated with Art History, as well as some suggested subjects that can be used when searching the library catalogue . eBOOKS Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere . PRINT BOOKS Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. . OTHER LIBRARIES You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.
If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, you may browse the shelves at the following call number locations:
Subjects:
Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.
Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.
Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere.
Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. .
You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.
The internet has a wealth of information. Explore grey literature, Open Education Resources and digital repositories to discover information about your subject from all over the world. Below you will find a curated list of web resources.
Below you will find a curated list of web resources.
GREY LITERATURE It’s not always black and white Grey literature falls into a ‘grey area’ of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab. . NEVER PAY Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.
Artstor’s ever-growing Public Collections offer approximately 1.3 million freely accessible images, videos, documents, and audio files from library special collections, faculty research, and institutional history materials, as well as hundreds of thousands of open access images from partner museums. Anyone may view and download these collections; no subscription or login required.
Three seasons on DVD. Available in the A/V collection under call number N6512.7 .A78 2005
Six volumes on DVD. Available in the A/V collection under call number N6750 .H57 2001
Three volumes on DVD. Available in the A/V collection under call number ND615 .G74 2007
24 DVDs available in the A/V collection under various call numbers.
Additional A/V resources may be found using the same subject searches and call ranges as printed materials in the main collection.
It's not always black and whiteGrey literature falls into a 'grey area' of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab.
Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.
Many electronic resources, such as the Library catalogue and academic databases, offer citation generation tools to automatically generate citations in your chosen style. Be sure to always verify the accuracy of the citation as sometimes this information is incorrect or improperly formatted. Below you will find a selection of citing and writing resources.
ACS (American Chemical Society)
APA (American Psychological Association)
APS (American Physical Society)
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk. Council of Science Editors Style Guide
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Chicago/TurabianPrint resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk
IEEE Style Manual (PDF)This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.
MLA (Modern Language Association)Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Writing Resources for Subject
Essay do's and don'ts : a practical guide to essay writing
Print resource: General Reserves PE1408 .E54 2017
The Purdue Online Writing Lab The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.
Style guides are updated regularly to keep pace with the changing nature of information, but instructors don't always adopt the most current guideline right away.
Check out the academic writing series offered by the Learning Centre and master the citation styles used in your field of study.
Many electronic resources, such as the Library catalogue and academic databases, offer citation generation tools to automatically generate citations in the style of your choice. Be sure to always verify the accuracy of the citation as sometimes this information is incorrect or improperly formatted. Below you will find a selection of citing and writing resources. STAY CURRENT Use the edition stated in your syllabus Style guides are updated regularly to keep pace with the changing nature of information, but instructors don't always adopt the most current guideline right away. GET HELP Set yourself up for success Check out the academic writing series offered by the Learning Centre and master the citation styles used in your field of study.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Print resource: General Reserves PE1408 .E54 2017
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.
Searching academic databases and library catalogues isn't like searching a browser on the web. To get relevant results, searches must be limited to keywords and subjects, and then joined using Boolean terms. Below you will find some tips on using Boolean terms with examples tailored to Art History, as well as descriptions of the different types of resources that may be encountered when searching. . CONNECT WITH US We'll help you get started Reach out via phone, email, MS Teams, or in person and we'd be happy to assist with any of your research and resource needs. Boolean Search Tips Use Boolean search operators AND, OR, and NOT to combine terms and create more accurate searches. This is particularly helpful when you are searching for resources on broader topics, information in a wide variety of formats, and if you don’t know the exact Library of Congress subject heading or title you are searching for. The Boolean operator AND tells the catalogue to only return results containing all of the specified search terms. altarpiece AND Ghent orientalism AND art AND 19th The operator AND can be used to combine two or more terms, and can be used in conjunction with other Boolean operators such as truncation and nested terms. Truncation is a method of broadening a search to include variable word endings. Use the * symbol at the end of a word, or the last point of change, to tell the catalogue to search for multiple word endings. Sculpture* will search for Sculpture and Sculptures Modern* will search for Modern, Modernism, Modernity, etc. The operator OR will also broaden searches as it tells the catalogue to return results with either or all of terms entered into a query. Rodin OR Degas will return results containing only Rodin, only Degas, and both Rodin and Degas Nested Terms is the practice of using brackets, or parenthesis, to determine an order of operations similar to mathematical equations. The catalogue will parse the instructions with the brackets first and then combine the terms with all other operators. sculpture* AND (Rodin OR Degas) will return results for Sculpture AND Rodin, Sculptures AND Rodin, Sculpture AND Degas, and Sculptures AND Degas simultaneously. Use quotes around a phrase or concept to indicate that those terms must be kept together when searching. "art deco" "Italian Renaissance" AND Architecture Large sets of search results can be limited using the operator NOT. This operator tells the catalogue to exclude results containing a certain term. sculpture AND Degas NOT Rodin From your results, select useful titles and click on the hyperlinked Subjects to find other books and articles on your topic.
These are articles reporting on original research and include elements such as a hypothesis, background studies, literature reviews, detailed methodologies, results, interpretations of findings, and discussions on possible implications and future research. Original research articles are typically longer, ranging from 3, 000 – 12, 000 words. These articles are peer reviewed and cite relevant publications from other authors that relate to the research being conducted.
These articles report on the in-depth study of a specific person, group, or event. They are used in a variety of fields such as psychology, medicine, education, political science, and social work in order to seek patterns and causes of behaviour.
A literature review is a systematic summary and synthesis of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. They frequently convey what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, as well as critically assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the field. They will often lack a ‘Methods’ section, though they are often peer reviewed.
These reviews are often designed to provide an exhaustive summary of current evidence in relation to a specific research question, synthesize findings qualitatively or quantitatively, and critically appraise research studies. Systematic reviews use rigorous and transparent review methodologies with the aim of assessing and minimizing bias in the findings.
A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies addressing the same question. The primary aim is to use statistical analyses to determine common truths. Meta-analyses can be part of a broader systematic review.
Including letters to the editor, correspondences, short communications, editorials, pictorial essays
Broadly speaking, gray literature is information produced outside of the traditional academic publishing and distribution systems such as academic journals and monographs. Gray literature can include reports, policies, working papers, newsletters, speeches, government documents, and more.
As grey literature is produced directly by an individual or organization, for their own either use or wider sharing, it is often more current than academic publications as it is not subject to the delays found in traditional publishing processes.
As grey literature does not go through a rigorous peer review process the quality can vary significantly, and it is recommended that these sources be critically evaluated.
| Subject | Primary | Secondary | Tertiary |
| Art History | Painting | Scholarly article on the painting | Encyclopaedia article on the artistic movement |
| History | WWII diary | Book on WWII military campaigns | List of battle sites |
| Literature | Short story | Essay in an academic collection | Biography of the author |