Citing Art: Mla Style Guide For Museum Paintings

how to cite a painting at a museum mla

When citing a painting viewed in a museum, it is essential to follow the correct format for the specific citation style. For MLA style, the citation should include the artist's last name followed by their first name, the title of the painting, the year it was created, and the museum name and location. Additional details such as the medium and dimensions can also be included. Here is an example: Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, oil on canvas, 149 x 255 in, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. This format ensures that the painting is properly referenced, enabling readers to locate the artwork and conduct further exploration if desired.

Characteristics Values
Artist's name Required
Artist's first name Required
Title of the artwork Required
Year of creation Required
Description of the work Required if no title
Materials used Optional
Dimensions Optional
Medium of publication Optional
Name of the museum Required
City where the museum is located Required
URL Optional
Date accessed Optional

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Artist's name

To cite a painting by an artist in a museum using the MLA format, you will need to include the following information:

  • The artist's full name, with their surname listed first, followed by a period. For example, "Van Gogh, Vincent."
  • The title of the painting, followed by a period. For instance, "The Starry Night."
  • The year the painting was created, followed by a period. In this case, "1889."
  • A description of the painting, including the materials used and its dimensions, followed by a period. For example, "Oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm."
  • The museum where the painting is housed, followed by a comma. In this case, "Museum of Modern Art."
  • The city where the museum is located, followed by a period to end the citation. For instance, "New York City."

> Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889. Oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm. Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

It is important to note that if the city is part of the museum's name, you can omit it from the citation. Additionally, the description of the painting's materials and dimensions is optional and should only be included if relevant to your discussion or analysis.

When citing a painting you have seen in person, follow the same format but replace the website information with the name of the gallery or museum, followed by the city where it is located. Here is an example of this format:

> Artist’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of creation, Museum, City.

For example:

> Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

This format can also be adapted for artworks other than paintings, such as photographs, sculptures, lithographs, and more. Simply replace the painting-specific information with the relevant details for the artwork in question.

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Painting title

To cite a painting in a museum using the MLA format, you need to include the artist's name, the title of the painting, the year it was created, and the name and location of the museum. Here is an example of how to cite a painting titled "Painting title" in MLA format:

Last Name, First Name. "Painting Title." Year of creation, Museum Name, City.

For example, if you are citing a painting by an artist with the name "Artist Name" and the painting is titled "Painting Title," it would look like this:

Artist Name, First Name. "Painting Title." Year, Museum, City.

You can also include additional information such as the materials used, dimensions, and a URL if the painting can be viewed online. Here is an example that includes this optional information:

Artist Name, First Name. "Painting Title." Year, medium, dimensions, Museum, City. http://website.com

If you are citing a digital image of the painting that you found online, you can include the URL and access date at the end of the citation, like so:

Artist Name, First Name. "Painting Title." Year, medium, dimensions, Museum, City. http://website.com. Accessed Month Day, Year.

It is important to note that the format for citing a painting in MLA style may vary slightly depending on the specific guidelines you are following, so it is always a good idea to consult the most recent edition of the MLA Handbook or a trusted style guide.

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Year of creation

When citing a painting in a museum in MLA style, the year of creation is an essential element to include. This information provides context and helps identify the artwork in question. Here are some detailed guidelines and examples for including the year of creation in your MLA citations for a painting in a museum:

Format for Including the Year of Creation:

The basic format for citing a painting in MLA style includes the artist's name, the title of the painting, the year of creation, and the museum details. Here's the specific order:

Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Painting. Year of creation, Museum Name, City.

For example:

Matisse, Henri. Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

In this example, "1905" is the year of creation, indicating when Henri Matisse created the painting "Femme au chapeau."

Circa and Approximate Dates:

If the exact year of creation is not known, you can use "circa" or an approximate date. Place a "c." before the year to indicate that it is approximate. For example:

Constable, John. Dedham Vale. c. 1802, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

In this example, "c. 1802" indicates that the painting "Dedham Vale" by John Constable was created around the year 1802.

Multiple Dates for Creations and Castings:

For artworks that involve multiple dates, such as creations and castings, include both dates in your citation. Place the date of creation first, followed by "cast" and the approximate casting date. For instance:

Rodin, Auguste. The Thinker. Circa 1880, cast circa 1904, The Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California.

Date of Composition:

The MLA format may also refer to the year of creation as the "date of composition." This term is interchangeable and carries the same meaning. Ensure that you provide the year of creation or composition to comply with MLA guidelines.

Date of Access:

When citing a painting you viewed in person at a museum, you do not need to include the date of access. However, if you are citing an online image or a digital reproduction of a painting, include the date you accessed the website or digital file. This is separate from the year of creation and should be formatted as "Accessed Month Day, Year."

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Museum name

Citing a painting from a museum in MLA format requires you to include the following pieces of information:

  • Artist’s Last Name, First Name
  • Title of the Painting
  • Year of creation
  • Medium or material used
  • Dimensions
  • Name of the Museum
  • City where the museum is located

Last Name, First Name. Title of Painting. Year, Medium, dimensions, Museum Name, City.

For example, if you were citing a painting by Vincent Van Gogh titled "The Starry Night" from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the citation would look like this:

Van Gogh, Vincent. The Starry Night. 1889, Oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.

Note that the medium and dimensions are optional and can be omitted if they are not relevant or available. Additionally, if the city is part of the museum's name, you can omit it from the citation.

When citing a painting you have seen in person, follow the same format but replace the URL with the name of the gallery or museum, followed by the city.

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City of museum

To cite a painting in a museum in MLA style, you need to include the artist's name, the title of the work, the date of composition, and the name of the museum along with the city in which the museum is located. Here is the basic format for citing a painting at a museum in MLA style:

Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Artwork OR description. Year of creation, Museum, City.

For example:

Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Now, let's talk about the "City of Museum." It seems that you are referring to the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. This unique institution is an all-ages architectural playground located in the heart of St. Louis. Housed in a massive 600,000 square foot former shoe factory, the City Museum is a surreal mix of children's playground, funhouse, and art installation. It was founded by the artist Bob Cassilly and features caves, tunnels, slides, rides, and even two abandoned planes! The museum is constructed from reclaimed materials sourced from within the city itself, giving it a truly urban character.

The City Museum is more than just a collection of exhibits; it's an experience that engages visitors of all ages. With its mix of playfulness and artistic expression, it has become a beloved destination for families and a source of inspiration for those seeking a unique cultural outing. The museum's website describes it as "weirdly wonderful," and visitors' reviews reflect this sentiment, with many emphasizing the sheer variety of attractions and the sense of exploration that the museum fosters.

In addition to the City Museum in St. Louis, there is also a Museum of the City of New York. This museum showcases the cultural landscape of New York through film, fashion, art installations, photography, and more. It also offers educational programs for children and adults through the Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center.

Frequently asked questions

To cite a painting in MLA format, you need to include the artist's full name, the title of the painting, the year it was created, the name of the museum, and the city where the museum is located. The basic format is as follows:

> Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name. Title of Artwork. Year of creation, Museum, City.

Including the materials used and the dimensions of the artwork are optional. You can include this information after the museum name and city.

If the painting does not have a title, you can simply provide a brief description of the artwork.

To cite wall text, follow the MLA format template. Provide a description of the wall text, including the title of the artwork it explains and the artist who created it. If the artwork was part of an exhibit, include the exhibit's name, dates, and the museum's location.

For a digital image of a painting, you would include the creator's name, the title of the image, the publication date, the title of the website, and the URL.

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