Leo Martínez
Citing a painting in MLA format may seem daunting, but it's a straightforward process. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for writing papers and citing sources in liberal arts and humanities. When referencing a painting, you'll need to include the artist's last name followed by their first name, the painting's title, the year it was created, the medium, and the name of the institution or collection where it's housed, along with the city. This information ensures proper attribution and helps readers locate the original source. Additionally, when using images in your work, whether they are photographs, drawings, or paintings, it's important to provide captions and source information to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the creator.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist's Last Name | Artist's First Name |
| Title of Artwork | Year |
| Location of Work | Book Title |
| Author's Last Name | Author's First Name |
| Publisher Name | Year of Publication |
| Page Number |
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Artist's name
When citing a painting in MLA format, there are a few key elements that you need to include in your citation. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to structure your citation:
The artist's name should be listed with their last name first, followed by a comma and their first name. For example:
> Rembrandt, Harmensz van Rijn
The title of the painting should be written in sentence case and italicized. If there is no official title, you can provide a brief description of the artwork. For example:
> *Aristotle with a Bust of Homer*
Year
The year the painting was created should be included, followed by a period. If the exact year is unknown, you can use "n.d." (for "no date") or provide an approximate date, such as "circa 1890." For instance:
> 1653.
Medium
The medium of the artwork is optional but can be included if relevant. For a painting, you would typically include the type of paint used and the surface, such as "oil on canvas." Here is an example:
> Oil on canvas.
Location
Finally, you should list the name of the institution or collection where the painting is housed, followed by the city where it is located. If it is in a private collection, you can simply state "Private collection." For instance:
> Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Putting It All Together
Now, let's combine all the elements to create the full MLA citation for the painting "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer" by Rembrandt:
> Rembrandt, Harmensz van Rijn. *Aristotle with a Bust of Homer*. 1653. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Additional Considerations
It is important to note that this citation format is for a painting viewed in person at an institution or collection. If you are citing a digital image of a painting found online, your citation may differ slightly. Additionally, always remember to refer to the latest MLA guidelines or consult your professor for specific requirements or variations in formatting.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite paintings and other works of art in MLA format, ensuring proper credit and avoiding plagiarism.
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Title of the painting
To cite a painting in MLA format, you will need to follow a specific structure. This is how you would cite a painting viewed in person:
Artist's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Artwork." Date of Artwork, Gallery Name, Location. Format (optional).
An example of this would be:
Rogers, Randolph. "Title of the Painting." 1859, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Marble sculpture.
If you are citing a reproduction of the work, such as a photograph of the painting, the citation is made up of two parts:
Part 1: Artist's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Artwork." Date of Artwork.
Part 2: Photographer's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Photograph of Painting." Date of Photograph, Location of Photograph (e.g. name of book or website).
For example:
Part 1: Rogers, Randolph. "Title of the Painting." 1859.
Part 2: Smith, John. "Photograph of Title of the Painting." 2023, Art Book, New York.
It is important to note that the format, such as marble sculpture or oil on canvas, is optional but can be included if relevant. Additionally, always try to locate as much information as possible, especially for digital images found on the internet. If the image does not have a title, include a description, and if the artist is unknown, start with the description followed by the rest of the information.
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Date of creation
When citing a painting in MLA format, the date of creation is essential. Here's how to include it:
Date Format
The date of creation should be included in the citation, following the title of the artwork. Use numerals for the date, providing the year alone unless the precise date is known, in which case, include the month and day as well. For example:
- 1859
- Circa 1899
- 13 March 2008
If the date is unknown or undetermined, use "N.d." to indicate "no date".
Order of Elements
The date of creation is typically included as part of a sequence of elements in the citation. The standard order is as follows:
- Artist's Last Name, First Name
- Title of Artwork
- Date of Creation
- Medium/Materials (optional)
- Name of Institution/Collection
- Location
For example:
- Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Oil on canvas.
- Zoffany, Johann. Major William Palmer with his Second Wife, the Mughal Princess Bibi Faiz Bakhsh. 1785, The British Library, London.
Date Accessed
If you are citing a digital image or a reproduction of the artwork, and there is no publication date included, provide the date you accessed the website or source. This is optional but recommended in MLA format:
Käsebier, Gertrude. Whirling Horse, Sioux. Circa 1899, Museum of Modern Art, New York City. Accessed 2023, www.moma.org/collection/works/47300.
Date in Title
In some cases, the date may be included as part of the artwork's title, often in parentheses. If so, include the date in your citation as part of the title:
Scholten, J.A. “Kate O'Flaherty (Kate Chopin, at the Time of Her Marriage), 1870." Missouri Historical Society, https://mohistory.org/collections/item/N11927.
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Gallery name and location
When citing a painting in MLA format, the gallery name and location are essential components of the citation. The general format for the gallery name and location is as follows:
"Gallery Name, City of the gallery"
- "Yale University Gallery, New Haven"
- "Museum of Modern Art, New York City"
- "The British Library, London"
- "The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City"
- "Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas"
If the name of the institution includes the location, you do not need to repeat the location after the name. For example:
"The National Gallery, London"
In this case, "London" does not need to be repeated after "The National Gallery" because it is already clear from the name of the institution.
It is important to include the city where the gallery is located to provide a clear and specific reference for the painting's location. This helps anyone reading your citation to easily identify and locate the painting you are referencing.
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Medium
When citing a painting in MLA format, the medium is not a mandatory piece of information. However, if the medium is important to your reference, you can include it at the end of the citation. For example:
> Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Oil on canvas.
Here, the medium "oil on canvas" is included after the name of the institution and its location. This is the typical placement of the medium in an MLA citation.
If you are citing a reproduction of the painting, the citation will be made up of two parts. The first part lists the original artist's name, the title of the work, and the date. The second part cites where you found the reproduction, such as a book or website.
For example, if you are citing a reproduction of Francisco Goya's painting from a book, the citation might look like this:
> Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800.
>
> Lastname, Firstname. Book Title. Publisher, Year, p. #.
In this case, the medium of the painting ("oil on canvas") is not included in the citation, as it is not essential to the reference.
It is important to note that the specific guidelines for MLA citations may vary depending on the source of the reproduction (e.g. book, website, magazine, etc.). Additionally, always refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or online resources for the most up-to-date and accurate information on citing paintings or other artworks.
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Frequently asked questions
If a digital image or painting does not have a title, include a description of the image in your citation.
Artist’s last name, first name. Title of artwork. Year. Medium. Name of institution/private collection housing artwork, city where institution/private collection is located.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Work: Subtitle if Any. Year, Location of Work. Book Title, by Author's Last Name, First Name, Publisher Name, Year of publication, p. number.
Artist’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the digital image.” Publication Date, title of website, Web address.
