
Citing a painting in APA format requires a bit more information than citing a book. The standard format for an APA citation of a painting includes the artist's surname and first name, the title of the painting, the year of creation, the museum or gallery where the painting is held, and the city where the museum or gallery is located. For example, the citation for Henri Matisse's Femme au chapeau (1905) would be: Matisse, H. Femme au chapeau. 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City. If the painting is accessed online, include the name of the website and the URL. Additionally, it is important to include any relevant copyright or permissions information.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist's name | Surname, First Name or Last Name, First Initial |
| Title of the painting | Title of Artwork or a description |
| Year of creation | Date |
| Name of the Museum or Gallery | Location of artwork |
| City of the museum or gallery | City, State/Country |
| Additional notes | Medium, copyright/permissions information, explanatory notes, etc. |
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What You'll Learn

Artist's name
When citing a painting in APA format, you will need to include the artist's name, the title of the artwork, the year the painting was created, and the location of the artwork. Here is an example of how to cite a painting in APA format, with a focus on the artist's name:
The artist's name should be formatted with the surname first, followed by a comma and then the first name. For example:
Matisse, Henri.
Or
Goya, Francisco.
If the artist is listed as "Anonymous," simply write "Anonymous" without providing a surname and first name.
In-Text Citation:
When referring to the artist's name in the text of your paper, use the author-date method. Cite the artist's name followed by the year of the painting's creation in parentheses. For example:
Matisse, 1905)
If there are multiple authors with the same surname and same publication year, distinguish them by adding lowercase letters after the year. For example:
- Smith, 2020a)
- Smith, 2020b)
Reference List Entry:
The full reference list entry for the painting citation will include all the elements mentioned earlier:
Artist's Surname, First Name. (Year of creation). Title of the painting [Description of medium]. Name of the Museum or Gallery, City of the museum.
For example:
Matisse, H. (1905). Femme au chapeau [Woman with a Hat]. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
Goya, F. (1820-1823). Saturn Devouring One of his Sons [mural painting transferred to canvas]. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
Remember to include a period after the artist's first name or initial, and italicize the title of the artwork. If there is no title for the artwork, provide a brief description in regular sentence capitalization.
Always verify the specific guidelines or preferences of your professor or editor, as there may be variations in how artwork citations are structured.
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Date
When citing a painting in APA format, the date of the painting's creation should be included. The date is placed after the name of the artist(s) and before the title of the painting. If the date of creation is unknown, " (n.d.)" can be used to indicate "no date".
For example, if the painting was created in 1820-1823, the citation would include the date range:
> Goya, F. (1820-1823). Saturn Devouring One of his Sons.
If the date of the painting's creation differs from the date of the source material in which it is reproduced, both dates should be included in the in-text citation. For example:
> (Houdon, 1771/2014)
In this example, the artwork was created in 1771, and the source material (an article or book) in which it is reproduced was published in 2014.
If the painting is viewed on a museum's website, the date accessed should also be included in the citation. This date should come after the URL and be followed by a period.
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Title of the painting
To cite a painting in APA format, you will need the following information:
- Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name
- Title of the Painting
- Year of creation
- Name of the Museum or Gallery
- City of the museum or gallery
- Date you viewed the painting
Last Name, First Name. (Year of creation). Title of the Painting. [Medium]. Name of Museum or Gallery, City of Museum or Gallery.
For example:
Matisse, Henri. (1905). Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). [Painting]. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
If you are citing a reproduction of a painting from a book or journal, you should also include the following information:
- Author or Editor
- Title of Book or Journal
- Pages
- Location: Publisher
- Year of book or journal publication
Artist Last Name, First Name (Year of image creation). Title of the Painting [Image format]. In Author or Editor, Title of Book (pages). Location: Publisher, Year of book publication.
For example:
Boccioni, Umberto (1911). States of Mind: The Farewells [Oil on Canvas]. In M. Stockstad, Art History (p. 1058). New York, NY: Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1995.
It is important to note that APA does not have a written standard for images, so there may be some variation in how different sources tell you to cite a painting. You should always check with your professor or editor before submitting your work.
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Medium
When citing a painting in APA format, the medium of the artwork should be included in square brackets after the title. For example, in the following citation:
> Goya, F. (1820-1823). Saturn Devouring One of his Sons. [mural painting transferred to canvas]. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
The medium of the artwork, in this case, a "mural painting transferred to canvas", is placed in square brackets after the title of the work, "Saturn Devouring One of his Sons". This format provides information about the original medium of the piece, as well as any subsequent modifications that may have been made, such as transferring a mural to canvas.
The medium of the artwork is an essential component of an APA citation for a painting, as it provides context and helps the reader understand the specific characteristics of the work. It is worth noting that the APA style may vary depending on the source of the painting, such as whether it is cited from a book, an online source, or viewed in person at a museum.
For example, when citing a painting viewed in person, the format would typically include the artist's last name, followed by their first name, the title of the artwork, the year of creation, the museum or gallery where it is housed, and the city where the museum is located. Here is an example:
> Matisse, Henri. Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
In this case, "mural painting transferred to canvas" would be included after the title to indicate the medium of the artwork.
When citing a painting reproduced in a book or an online source, additional information may be included, such as the author and title of the book, the page number, the publisher, and the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for online sources. Here is an example of citing a painting reproduced in a book:
> Boccioni, Umberto (1911). States of Mind: The Farewells [Oil on Canvas]. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. From M. Stockstad, Art History (p. 1058). New York, NY: Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1995.
In this citation, "Oil on Canvas" indicates the medium of the artwork.
It is important to note that the specific format and requirements for citing a painting in APA style may vary depending on the guidelines provided by your professor or editor, as APA does not have a standardized format for images. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult with them before submitting your work.
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Location of the painting
When citing a painting in APA format, it is important to include the location of the artwork. This is a crucial element of the citation, providing context and enabling others to locate the painting for further research or viewing. Here are some detailed instructions and examples for including the location of a painting in an APA citation:
The location of the painting typically refers to the institution or place where the artwork is housed or displayed. This could be a museum, gallery, private collection, or other relevant venue. Providing the full name of the location ensures clarity and helps individuals easily find the painting. For example:
- "Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain" is the location of Francisco de Goya's painting "Saturn Devouring One of his Sons."
- "The Museum of Modern Art, New York City" is the location of Henri Matisse's painting "Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat)."
In addition to the city, it is often advisable to include the state and country, especially if the city is not widely known or could be confused with other locations. This adds an extra layer of clarity and precision to your citation. For instance:
- Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain clearly indicates the country.
- For a city like New York, adding "NY" or "New York State" can be helpful, especially for an international audience.
If the painting is part of a private collection or is located in a less formal setting, provide as much information as possible while respecting privacy. For example, you could write "Private Collection, London, UK" or "Smith Family Estate, Sydney, Australia."
In some cases, a painting may be on temporary display or loan at a location different from its permanent home. If this information is relevant or adds value to your citation, you can include both the current and permanent locations. For instance:
"On loan from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, USA, currently exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX, USA"
If the painting has a complex ownership or display history, or if you are specifically referencing a past exhibition, you can include dates and additional locations. However, be mindful of space constraints and the focus of your citation. For example:
"Previously exhibited at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France, from 2018 to 2020, now returned to the National Museum, City, Country."
Remember, the goal of the location element in your APA citation is to provide sufficient information for readers to locate the painting and understand its context. Choose the most relevant and up-to-date information to include in your citation.
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Frequently asked questions
The citation should include the artist's surname and first name, the title of the painting, the year it was created, the name of the museum, and the city where the museum is located. For example: Matisse, H. Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
If you accessed the painting on a website, include the name of the website and the URL in your citation, in addition to the information mentioned previously.
If the image has no title, provide a brief description of it. If there is no artist, you can omit that part of the citation. If there is no date, you can use "n.d." in place of the date.
You should format the image as a figure, with a number, a descriptive title, and an entry in your list of figures. The title should appear above the image and will vary depending on the type of image. For artwork, the title of the work can be used. A note below the figure can include details such as authorship, medium, and copyright information.











































