Isabella Flores
When it comes to referring to works of art, such as paintings, there are certain style guidelines that are generally followed. While quotation marks are typically used for items that are part of or excerpted from a larger work, such as song titles or poems, italics are reserved for standalone pieces like book titles, movies, and albums. This extends to the titles of individual artworks, which are usually italicized and written in sentence case. For example, one would refer to Michael Kareken’s painting *Stripped*. Additionally, when referring to a series of artworks, the title of the series and the individual works within it are also italicized.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Style | MLA |
| Items that are part of or excerpted from a larger work | Quotes |
| Stand-alone work | Italics |
| Artwork titles | Italics |
| Exhibition name | Ampersands and plus signs are acceptable |
| Number of people responsible for creating the book | Apostrophe goes between the "t" and "s" for one individual |
| Artwork captions | Consistent format (Artist Name, Artwork Title, year, medium, dimensions or runtime) |
| Catalogue titles | Italics and sentence case |
| Individual artwork | Italics and sentence case |
| Names of paintings | No italics, underlines, or quotation marks |
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What You'll Learn
Individual artwork titles are italicized
When writing about art, it is generally considered good practice to italicize the titles of individual artworks. This is true regardless of whether the artwork in question is a painting, sculpture, photograph, or another type of creative work. For example, the painting "Scolded" by an unnamed artist was published in the New York Times.
Artwork titles are treated similarly to the titles of books, movies, and albums, which also take italicization. On the other hand, quotation marks are typically used for titles of shorter works, such as songs, poems, and episodes of a TV series. This is a common convention in writing, and it helps to distinguish the title of a work from the surrounding text.
It is worth noting that some style guides may have specific rules regarding the formatting of artwork titles. For example, the MCAD Editorial Style Guide specifies that artwork titles should be italicized and not placed within quotation marks. Similarly, the Style Manual, a publication of the Australian government, also instructs writers to italicize the titles of individual artworks.
When referring to a series of artworks, the title of the series is italicized, and the titles of individual works within the series are also italicized. For example, "Quilting the Armour" (1947) is one of the works in the "Ned Kelly" series by Arthur Boyd. It is important to maintain consistency in the formatting of artwork titles throughout a text or publication.
Additionally, when an artwork has a unique typographic style in its title, this should be replicated, including any capitalization, punctuation, or language choices made by the artist. For instance, William Yaxley titled his sculpture "The Mangrove Monster No." with a capital "N" and a following number symbol, and this specific style should be preserved when referencing the work.
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Catalogue titles are italicized
When it comes to writing about art, certain style guidelines need to be followed. Catalogue titles are italicized and use sentence case for the title. For example, the catalogue titled "Important Australian Paintings" produced by the Philip Bacon Galleries in 2011 would be written in italics as per the style guide. This catalogue was created to accompany an exhibition of the same name, and the exhibition name is also italicized.
It is important to note that when referencing, the title of the exhibition, the full start and end dates, the publisher, and the location of the gallery should all be included. For online catalogues, it is recommended to hyperlink the title and include an access date. If the catalogue is in PDF format, provide a link to the page hosting the PDF instead of directly linking to the document.
Artwork titles are also italicized, and the original capitalization of the title should be maintained. For instance, if an artwork is titled "Portrait in the Mirror," the title would be written in italics with the same capitalization. If the title is in another language, it should be written in that language, and you can include the English translation.
Additionally, when referring to a series of artworks, the title of the series is italicized, and individual artworks within the series are also italicized. For example, the "Potter series" by Arthur Boyd and the "Ned Kelly series" would have their titles italicized, and the individual artworks within these series would also be italicized.
It is worth mentioning that, in general, MLA style suggests using quotes for items that are part of or excerpted from a larger work, such as song titles or poems, and italics for stand-alone works, such as album titles, books, or movies. However, it is always a good idea to refer to specific style guides for consistent formatting.
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Series titles are italicized
When it comes to the presentation of titles, certain stylistic choices are made to emphasise and differentiate them from regular text. In the case of painting titles, there is a general consensus to italicise them. This is consistent with the broader rule of italicising the titles of stand-alone works, which includes books, movies, and albums.
For example, the Style Manual, a style guide published by the Australian government, recommends italicising the titles of individual artworks. This is exemplified in their writing guide: "William Yaxley used mandarin peel in his sculpture, *The Mangrove Monster* No." Here, the title of the sculpture is italicised, treating it similarly to a book or movie title.
Additionally, the Style Manual also advises that when referencing a series of artworks, the title of the series should be italicised as well. For instance, "Arthur Boyd's *Potter* series" and "the *Ned Kelly* series" both italicise the series titles. This is in line with the convention of italicising the titles of stand-alone works, as a series of artworks can be considered a cohesive whole.
However, it's worth noting that different style guides may have slightly varying recommendations. For instance, the MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) Editorial Style Guide specifies that italics, underlines, and quotation marks are not used for the names of galleries, museums, festivals, and educational institutions. Instead, they emphasise the use of consistent formatting for artwork captions, typically including the artist's name, artwork title, year, medium, and dimensions or runtime.
While the general trend is to italicise painting titles, it's always important to refer to the specific style guide being used for consistency and adherence to its conventions.
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Quotation marks are not used for titles
The general rule is that quotation marks are used for smaller works that are part of a larger whole, whereas italics are used for larger, standalone works. For example, articles and chapters are put in quotation marks, and books are italicized.
Following this rule, individual works of art, like paintings, are underlined or italicized. This is because creating a work of art is a significant accomplishment, and art can be considered a "big" thing that stands alone.
Quotation marks are typically used for titles of smaller works, like a photograph, that are often part of a larger whole. A photograph is usually much smaller than a work of created art, and so it is placed in quotation marks.
It is worth noting that some style guides, such as MLA, may require quotation marks for items that are part of or excerpted from a larger work. For example, song titles and poems are usually put in quotation marks, while album titles, books, and movies are italicized.
However, as mentioned earlier, the titles of individual paintings are generally italicized or underlined, not placed in quotation marks.
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Artist's original formatting should be followed
When it comes to referencing artwork, it is generally recommended to follow the artist's original formatting. This includes maintaining the same capitalisation, punctuation, and language used by the artist. For example, if the artist has titled their work in a specific style, such as all lowercase or with a unique punctuation mark, it is important to preserve that format when referring to the artwork. This ensures that the artist's intention and creative expression are respected and accurately represented.
Artwork titles are typically italicised, and this is consistent with the MLA style guide, which suggests using italics for stand-alone works. However, if the artist has chosen a different typographic style for the title, it is essential to follow their chosen format. This means that if an artist has used quotation marks, ampersands, or a specific capitalisation pattern, these choices should be maintained when referring to the artwork. For instance, Michael Kareken’s painting titled 'Stripped' in all lowercase, or 'Scolded', published in the New York Times, both properly italicised.
It is worth noting that some style guides, such as the MCAD Editorial Style Guide, specifically advise against using italics, underlines, or quotation marks for the names of galleries, museums, festivals, and similar institutions. Therefore, when referencing artwork in certain contexts, it is crucial to adhere to the specific guidelines provided by the relevant institution or publication. Consistency is key, and maintaining a uniform style throughout a text or publication is important for clarity and professionalism.
Additionally, when referring to a series of artworks, the titles of each individual work within the series should be italicised as well. For example, in the "Potter series" by Arthur Boyd, each unique work within the series would be italicised, such as "Vase with Red Glaze" and "Bowl with Etched Design". This helps to distinguish between the series as a whole and the specific artworks that comprise it. Again, any unique formatting or capitalisation chosen by the artist for the titles of these works should be respected and replicated.
In cases where the title of the artwork is in a different language, it is important to retain the original spelling and language. An English translation can be provided alongside the original title to facilitate understanding for the audience. This practice ensures that the artist's cultural context and intentions are accurately conveyed, even for viewers who may not be familiar with the language of the original title. Overall, maintaining the artist's original formatting is a critical aspect of properly referencing and respecting their work.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the names of paintings should be italicized.
Yes, if the painting is part of a larger work, quotation marks can be used instead of italics.
If the artist has used a unique typographic style in the title, this should be preserved. For example, if the title is all in lowercase, it should be written in lowercase.
Write the title in the original language and include the English translation.
Yes, it is important to be consistent in your style and follow a specific guide if provided. The style may vary depending on the context and the artwork in question.
