Art and Architecture Collection > Art History: A Research Guide

Writing About Art

 

Art historical and critical writing share distinctive characteristics related to analysis, style, and description. Two guides serve as the standard models for content:

Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing About Art. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co., 1989.
The classic guide, this work provides sample essays on art historical and critical writing, investigates writing a comparison, and treats style and formatting.

Sayre, Henry M. Writing About Art. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1989.
This title offers a different pedagogical approach, in which choosing an image, visual information description, medium considerations, historical context, and focusing on a topic are covered.