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**Evaluate the Library Instruction Session**

Masterpieces of Western Art:
Research Sources and Strategies

First Things First:  Choosing a topic & Selecting your search terms

Choosing a topic is an iterative process.  Here are some considerations to keep in mind. Your topic will evolve as you research, so research must also be part of choosing your topic.

Think about synonyms, broader terms, narrower terms, plural/singular terms... what are the ways to describe your topic?  Create a list of topic words or that you will use in your searches.

Finding Books

• VIRGO - The library catalog
  Note:  Searching the "Subject" field uses only the Library of Congress Subject Heading terms:

Search using "Search All", and look for keywords. Connect your words using "AND" to narrow down your results.  Careful!  "Search All" will include results in which your terms appear as part of an Author's name, publishing company, etc!
    Example: Pompeii and mosaic?
    Example: Rome and bronze?

Finding Articles:

Zenon
The combined catalogue of all the German Archaeological Schools in Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Madrid, Damascus, Cairo, etc. Citations to articles on classical, near eastern, and Egyptian archaeology, Byzantine art history, epigraphy, and numismatics.  NOTE:  Zenon was developed as a free version of Dyabola... however, on occasion you will find different results in each database.  If you're not finding what you need, try Dyabola too.

Art Index
Indexes articles and art reproductions in all arts media from selected art periodicals published since 1929. The index is divided into two parts, Art Index Retrospective (1929-1984) and Art Index Full Text (1984-present). Actual full text coverage begins in 1997.

Bibliography of the History of Art: BHA  
Indexes and abstracts periodicals, catalogs, essays, etc.; subjects include all aspects of the visual arts, architecture, and design in the post-Classical western world. Includes book reviews.  You can also search Avery Index (the best architecture and architectural history database) if you select it from the "Specific Databases" link.

JSTOR
The full text of key journals in history and other disciplines, from the first volume up to the late 1980's or early 1990's. Includes the American Historical Review, College Art Journal, Burlington, Archives of American Art Journal, and more.  NOTE: JSTOR does NOT include recent issues of these journals.

EbscoHost
Indexes over 100 journals related to architecture, planning, landscape and sustainability - many of which are NOT indexed by Avery. Some articles provided in full-text.  Also great for current events, news items, and reviews.

Reference Resources (for orienting you with people,concepts, and other general background info)

Grove Art Online 
Access to over 41,000 articles on the arts and cultures of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific as well as links to tens of thousands of images.

Oxford Reference Online
Of particular interest to this class are the Art & Architecture and History materials.

Finding Images:

• ARTstor (You will need to set up an account for ArtStor from on-Grounds. See the ARTstor Help for more information)
  • NOTE: Please see the video on the left for a tutorial on downloading images from ARTstor for use in Powerpoint or other formats.


• Flickr
  • Flickr is filled with amazing images of public art and architecture.  PLEASE NOTE, however, that copyright restrictions still apply with Flickr.  You are welcome to use images in a scholarly context, but don't publish or post to the web without permission of the photographer!
    

Related Subjects

Find databases about English/Literature, Religion, History, Sociology, etc. 
Click here for a list of databases by topic.

Questions?  Need more help?  Contact Us!

Lucie Stylianopolous:  lucie@virginia.edu

Rebecca Cooper:  rcooper@virginia.edu