Art & Architecture Collection > Art Research: Beginning Strategies - A Research Guide

How To Research An Artist

To obtain information on an artist, there are a number of resources that can be checked. Artists who are well-known will appear in a variety of publications. More obscure artists may appear in biographical dictionaries. These dictionaries are numerous, with many written in several languages, and can be specific as to type of artist covered.

It is most important that you know the correct spelling of the artist's last name, and/or possible variations, and at least the first initial of that person's first name. Do not discount non-English language sources since they cover artists of all nationalities and may be the only books that contain any information. The following reference publications should be consulted in general:

McNeil, Barbara, ed.,   Artist Biographies Master Index.  Detroit, Michigan : Gale Research Co., 1986. [MAO 87-274]
Havlice, Patricia Pate.  Index to Artistic Biography.  Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1973. [ MAO 88-8106].
Mallett.  Index of Artists. 2 vol. [MAO]
Benezit, Emmanuel.  Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs,
Dessinateurs et Graveurs de tous les Temps et de Tous les Pays.  Paris : Grund, 1976. 10 vol.
[*R-ART 90-2371]
Thieme, Ulrich und Becker, Felix, ed.  Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Kunstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart . Munchen : Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1992. 37 v.  [MAN 93-9188]
Vollmer, Hans. Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Kunstler des 20. Jahrhunderts. Munchen : Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 1992. 6 v. [MAN 93-9189]

If you know your artist's nationality, medium, or century, there are many other specialized biographical dictionaries to consult. Some examples of these kinds of reference tools are:

Emanuel, Muriel.  Contemporary Architects. New York : St. James Press, 1994. [ MQY+ 95-9467]
Joann Cerrito,ed.  Contemporary Artists. New York : St. James Press, 1996. 4th ed.
[MAO 96-1401]
Naylor,Colin, ed.  Contemporary Designers. Chicago : St. James Press, 1990. 2nd ed. [MNF+ 91-4858]
Cummings, Paul.  Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists.
New York : St. Martin's, 1994. 6th ed. [MAMT 94-14544].
Wood, Christopher.  The Dictionary of  Victorian Painters. Woodbridge, England : Antique Collectors' Club, 1978. 2nd. ed.[MCT 87-3729]
Fielding, Mantle.  Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers. New completely revised ed. edited by Glenn B.Opitz.  Poughkeepsie, N.Y. : Apollo, 1983. [MAO 86-543]
Falk, Peter Hastings, ed. Who was Who in American Art. Madison, CT. : Sound View Press, 1985.[ MAO 85-3440].
Who's Who in American Art. New York : R. R. Bowker.  v. 1-   1936/37-. [MAO    1936/37-]
Who's Who in Art: Biographies of Leading Men and Women in the World of Art Today: Artists, designers, craftsmen, critics, Writers Teachers, Collectors, and Curators With an Appendix of Signatures. Hantsford, England: Art Trade Press, 1927 - [MAO]

Sometimes artists simply do not receive biographical treatment in any existing reference publication. Information on these individuals could be found in periodical literature; you can try searching the artist's name through such periodical indexes as Art Index or ArtBibliographies Modern. Artists in the decorative and craft arts may have citations in the Design and Applied Arts Index.

Some libraries, especially museum and historical society libraries, have files of miscellaneous material that can include artist information. The Art & Architecture Collection here at New York Public Library has such a collection, its "Artists Files on Microfiche."  This is an unique group of ephemeral information on 90,000 artists of all nationalities, working in all media. The Art & Architecture Collection has a five volume name index which can be consulted. This information is not available through our online catalog, you must consult our department directly.