
Citing a painting in text can be done in various styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago. The general format for citing a painting includes the artist's last name, followed by their first name, the title of the artwork, the year of creation, and the name of the museum or gallery where the painting is housed, along with the city. If citing a painting viewed online, additional information such as the URL and access date may be included. It is important to provide as much relevant information as possible when citing a painting, and specific requirements may vary depending on the citation style and instructor preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist's Last Name | Artist's Last Name, e.g., Leutze |
| Artist's First Name | Artist's First Name, e.g., Emmanuel |
| Title of Artwork | Title of Artwork, e.g., Washington Crossing the Delaware |
| Year of Creation | Year of Creation, e.g., 1851 |
| Materials Used | Materials used to make the artwork, e.g., oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | Dimensions, e.g., 120 cm x 150 cm |
| Name of Museum or Gallery | Name of Museum or Gallery, e.g., The Met |
| City of Museum or Gallery | City of Museum or Gallery, e.g., New York City |
| URL | URL, e.g., www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11417 |
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What You'll Learn

Artist's name format
When citing a painting, it is important to follow the correct format for the artist's name. The artist's name should be written with their last name (surname) first, followed by a comma and then their first name. This format is consistent with how an author of a book is typically cited. For example, in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, the artist's name would be structured as follows:
Last Name, First Name.
Leutze, Emmanuel.
If you are citing a source that includes multiple artists, separate their names with a comma followed by an ampersand (&), and conclude with a full stop. For example:
Smith, John, & Johnson, Mary.
Additionally, if the artist has a middle name or initial, include this information in your citation. For instance:
Last Name, First Name Middle Name.
Or:
Last Name, First Name M.
In certain styles, such as APA, the artist's name can also be structured with only the last name, followed by the first initial and a full stop. For example:
Last Name, F. (Year).
This format is particularly relevant when citing a painting in text, where the artist's full first name may not be necessary.
When citing a painting, it is crucial to maintain consistency in the formatting of the artist's name throughout your work. This includes retaining the same punctuation and capitalisation in each instance.
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Artwork title and description
When citing a painting or artwork, it is essential to follow the correct format and include all the necessary information. Here are some detailed guidelines and examples for providing the title and description of a painting or artwork:
Artist's Name: Begin by stating the artist's last name, followed by a comma and their first name. For example, "Van Gogh, Vincent." This format is standard across various citation styles and treats the artist as the author of a book.
Description of the Artwork: Include a concise description of the artwork to provide context and help readers understand the piece. This description can include the materials used, dimensions, and any unique characteristics or techniques employed. For example, "This oil on canvas painting measures 72 x 92 cm and depicts a vibrant starry sky over a rural landscape."
Year of Creation: Mention the year the artwork was created, followed by a comma. If the exact date is unknown, you can use "c." for circa, such as "c. 1600," or "n.d." if no date is provided. In cases where the artwork was created over multiple years, you can provide a range, like "2018-2020."
Location of the Artwork: If relevant, include the name of the museum or gallery where the artwork is currently housed, followed by the city. For example, "The Louvre, Paris."
URL and Access Date: When citing a painting viewed online, provide the URL of the website where the image is located. Additionally, include the access date in the format "Accessed Month Day, Year."
Van Gogh, Vincent. La Nuit Étoilée (The Starry Night). 1889, The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78472, Accessed Jan 1, 2023. This oil on canvas painting measures 72 x 92 cm and depicts a vibrant starry sky over a rural landscape.
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Year of creation
Citing a painting typically requires more information than citing a book. The general format for citing a painting in text is as follows:
Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name. Title of Artwork OR description. Year of creation, Name of Museum or Gallery, City of the museum or gallery.
For example, the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emmanuel Leutze would be cited as:
Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
If the painting is viewed online, the citation would include the name of the website and the URL, instead of the name and location of the museum:
Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851. The Met, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11417.
If the painting is viewed in a book or online, rather than in person, the citation should include the author, title, date of publication, and publication information at the end of the reference list entry. For example:
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800. In Gardener's Art Through the Ages, by Richard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner, Harcourt Brace, p. 939.
If the date of creation is unknown, you can use the abbreviation "n.d." for "no date". For example:
Gogh, Vincent van. Untitled. n.d. Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
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Materials and dimensions
When citing a painting, it is important to include the materials and dimensions of the work. The specific format for your citation may vary depending on the citation style you use, such as Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago style.
Materials
After providing the title of the painting and the year it was created, you should include a description of the materials used to create the artwork. Use sentence case, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns. Place a period after this description. For example, "oil on canvas". If the materials used are not relevant to your paper, you may omit this information in an MLA citation.
Dimensions
Following the description of materials, provide the dimensions of the work. The dimensions refer to the outer size of the canvas, paper, or other base materials of the artwork, excluding the frame unless it is an integral part of the piece. The standard format for listing dimensions is height followed by width, and then depth for three-dimensional pieces. Use standard abbreviations for units of measurement and provide measurements in both imperial and metric units if possible, with conversions in parentheses. For example, "149 x 255 in".
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Museum or gallery details
When citing a painting, it is important to include the name of the museum or gallery where the artwork is located. The specific details to include in your citation will depend on the citation style you are using, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago style. Here are some examples of how to cite a painting in each of these styles, focusing on the museum or gallery details:
MLA Style
The MLA style is commonly used in the humanities and follows a specific format. When citing a painting in MLA style, include the following information:
- Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name
- Title of Artwork (or description if there is no title, do not italicize)
- Year of creation
- Name of the Museum or Gallery (do not italicize)
- City of the Museum or Gallery
For example:
Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
APA Style
The APA style is often used in the social sciences and has its own format. When citing a painting in APA style, include the following information:
- Artist's Surname, First Initial (or First Name)
- Year of creation
- Title of the painting (in sentence case)
- Name of the museum or gallery
- City of the museum or gallery
- URL of the museum or gallery website
For example:
Thomas, A. H. (1921). Formes et couleurs: vingt planches en couleurs contenant soixante-sept motifs decoratifs [Painting]. The Met Museum, New York, NY, United States. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/591870?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&high=on&ft=Art+Deco&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=3
Chicago Style
The Chicago style is commonly used in history and the arts. When citing a painting in Chicago style, include the following information:
- Artist's Last Name, First Name
- Title of Artwork (in italics) or description if there is no title (do not italicize)
- Date of creation
- Medium of artwork (e.g. oil on canvas, lithograph)
- Name of Museum or Gallery (do not italicize)
- City of the Museum or Gallery (if not already stated in the name of the museum or gallery)
- Museum Accession Number (if applicable)
- URL of the museum or gallery website
For example:
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn. Aristotle with a Bust of Homer. 1653. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
These examples provide a guide on how to cite a painting in different styles, focusing on the museum or gallery details. Remember to consult the specific style guides for comprehensive information on citation formats.
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Frequently asked questions
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork: Subtitle if Any. Year, Location of Work.
For example:
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name. Title of Artwork OR description. Year of creation.
For example:
Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851.
Artist's Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork or description if no title. Date of Creation or Completion. Medium of artwork, size of artwork. Name of Institution Where Artwork is Located, Name of City [if not already stated in Name of Institution]. Title of Website. Museum Accession Number. URL.
Here are some general tips for citing a painting in text:
- Provide as much information as possible in your citations.
- If you viewed the artwork on a museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container and include the website's publisher and the URL at the end of the citation.
- If you refer to the information from the artwork but do not reproduce it in your paper, create a citation both in-text and on your Works Cited list.
To cite a painting you viewed online, follow the same format as you would for a painting seen in person, but replace the name of the gallery or museum with the name of the website and include the URL.











































