Isabella Flores
Citing a painting in an art history paper is an essential part of giving credit to the creators of the images and ideas you reference in your research. The two most commonly used citation styles in art history are Modern Language Association (MLA) and Chicago Manual Style. The required style depends on the preferences of your instructor or the syllabus for your assignment. When citing a painting, you should include the title, artist, date of creation, materials used, dimensions, location, and URL if accessed online. The specific format varies slightly between MLA and Chicago styles. For example, in MLA, the artist's name is followed by the title of the work in italics, while Chicago style treats the artist as the author of the painting, listing their last name followed by their first name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist's name | Yes |
| Artist's first name | Yes |
| Artist's last name | Yes |
| Title of the painting | Yes |
| Year of creation | Yes |
| Materials used | Yes |
| Dimensions | Yes |
| Museum name | Yes |
| City | Yes |
| URL | Yes |
| Date accessed | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Artist's name, title of painting, and date
When citing a painting in an art history paper, the general format is as follows:
Artist's Name: The artist's name should be written with their surname first, followed by a comma and their first name. For example, "Matisse, Henri". If the artist is listed as "Anonymous," simply write "Anonymous" instead of a name.
Date: Include the year the painting was created, followed by a comma. If the exact year is unknown, you can use "n.d." to indicate "no date." For example, "1905," or "n.d."
Matisse, Henri. Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). 1905,
Remember to include additional information such as the materials used, dimensions, museum or gallery housing the piece, city, and URL if applicable. The format may vary slightly depending on the specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) and your instructor's preferences.
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Medium, materials, and dimensions
When citing a painting in an art history paper, it is important to include information such as the medium, materials, and dimensions. Here are some detailed guidelines on how to do this effectively:
Medium and Materials
The medium and materials used by the artist are essential details that provide context and insight into the creation of the artwork. When including this information in your citation, list the specific materials used, such as "oil on canvas" or "mammoth ivory". This information should be provided in sentence case, followed by a period. For example: "Oil on canvas. " or "Mammoth ivory."
Dimensions
The dimensions of a painting refer to its size, including height and width, and possibly depth if relevant. When citing dimensions, you have the option to use either metric or imperial measurements, but it is important to maintain consistency throughout your paper. Here is an example of how to cite dimensions in your paper:
"29 in. x 36.25 in." or "73.66 cm x 92.075 cm"
In this example, the height is listed first, followed by the width. It is important to ensure that you are providing the dimensions in the correct orientation, particularly for paintings that may be displayed in a portrait or landscape format.
Additionally, when citing the dimensions, you should also include the units of measurement used by the institution where the painting is housed. If these units are not provided, you can use a conversion to ensure consistency. For example:
"29 in. x 36.25 in. (73.66 cm x 92.075 cm)"
By including the medium, materials, and dimensions in your citation, you provide valuable technical details that contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the artwork's creation and physical characteristics.
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Location and name of institution
When citing a painting in an art history paper, it is essential to include the name and location of the institution where the artwork is housed. This information is crucial for properly attributing and locating the source. Here are some detailed guidelines on how to include the location and name of the institution in your citations:
MLA Style
In the MLA (Modern Language Association) style, the location and name of the institution are included as follows:
- Provide the name of the museum, collection, or institution that houses the painting. Place a comma after the name.
- Next, specify the city where the museum, collection, or institution is located. Place a period after the city name.
- For example: "Museum of Modern Art, New York."
- If you viewed the painting on the museum's website, omit the name and location of the museum. Instead, provide the name of the website and the URL.
- Example: "Museo del Prado, www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/."
- If the location is already indicated in the name of the institution, such as "The Art Institute of Chicago," you may omit the city.
Chicago Style
In the Chicago style, the location and name of the institution are included similarly to the MLA style:
- After providing the dimensions, type the name of the museum, collection, or institution.
- Place a comma, then specify the city where the institution is located.
- For example: "Museum of Modern Art, New York."
- The Chicago Manual of Style does not specify whether to use imperial or metric measurements. You can choose either system but ensure consistency throughout your paper.
- If you viewed the painting online, include the URL and the date of access.
APA Style
While the specific guidelines for APA (American Psychological Association) style are not explicitly mentioned in the sources, it is generally consistent with MLA and Chicago styles:
- Include the name of the museum or institution and the city where it is located.
- Example: "Museo del Prado, Madrid."
- For online sources, provide the URL and access date.
Other Considerations
- When citing the location, consider whether the artwork is housed in a museum, a private collection, or reproduced in a publication.
- Always try to cite the original location rather than a reproduction whenever possible.
- If the artwork's location is unknown, focus on providing the name of the institution or collection.
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URL and date accessed
When citing a painting in an art history paper, the general format is as follows:
Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Artwork in Italics. Year of Creation. Materials Used. Dimensions. Museum or Collection, City. URL, Accessed Day Month Year.
Gogh, Vincent van. The Starry Night. 1889. Oil on canvas. 29 in. x 36.25 in. Museum of Modern Art, New York. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79018, accessed 1 January 2024.
Note that the URL and date accessed are optional in some styles, such as Chicago, unless there is no listed publication date for the source. In that case, the format for the access date is "Accessed Month Day, Year".
If you viewed the painting on a museum's website, omit the name and location of the museum and use the name of the website and URL instead. For example:
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800. Oil on canvas. Museo del Prado, www.museodelprado.es/collection/artwork/family-of-charles-iv, accessed 1 January 2024.
It is important to be consistent with your choice of measurements (imperial or metric) throughout your paper and citations.
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In-text citations and bibliography
When citing a painting in an art history paper, there are two commonly used citation styles: Modern Language Association (MLA) style and the Chicago Manual Style. It is important to ask your instructor or refer to your syllabus for the required style for your assignment. Here is how to create in-text citations and bibliographies in each style:
MLA Style
In-text citations in MLA style do not require parenthetical citations. Instead, give the artist's name, followed by the title of the work in italics. For example: "One of Francisco Goya's subjects in *The Family of Charles IV* has her head turned away."
When creating an MLA bibliography entry, follow this format:
- Artist's last name, followed by a comma. Then, the artist's first name, followed by a period. For example: "Goya, Francisco."
- Title of the painting in italics. Capitalize the first word and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs. Then, provide the year of creation in parentheses. For example: "The Family of Charles IV. 1800."
- Museum or gallery name, followed by a comma and the city where it is located. For example: "Museo del Prado, Madrid."
- The medium and materials used, if important or relevant to your paper. For example: "Oil on canvas."
- The dimensions of the painting, using metric or imperial measurements. Be sure to keep your chosen unit of measurement consistent throughout your paper. For example: "29 in. x 36.25 in."
- The URL of the museum or gallery website, including "https://www." For example: "https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/."
Chicago Style
Chicago style considers the artist (or painter) the "author" of the painting. In your bibliography, start with the artist's last name, followed by a comma, then their first name, followed by a period. For example: "Gogh, Vincent van."
After the title of the painting in italics, provide the year of creation in parentheses. For example: "*The Starry Night*. 1889."
Next, list the medium and materials used, followed by the dimensions. For example: "Oil on canvas. 29 in. x 36.25 in."
Include the name and location of the museum or collection. Provide the name of the museum, collection, or institution that houses the painting, followed by a comma and the city where it is located. For example: "Museum of Modern Art, New York."
Finally, close with the URL and date of access if you viewed the painting online. Provide a full direct URL to the painting itself, followed by a comma and the word "accessed," then the date. For example: "https://www.moma.org/artwork/132544, accessed May 6, 2023."
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Frequently asked questions
Modern Language Association (MLA) style and the Chicago Manual Style.
Provide the artist's name, followed by the title of the work in italics. Include the year the painting was created in parentheses. Mention the materials used and the dimensions. If the painting is housed in a museum, include the name of the museum and its location. Finally, add the URL if you're citing a painting from a website.
Type the artist's last name, followed by their first name. Italicize the title of the painting and provide the year of creation in parentheses. Include the medium and dimensions. Mention the museum or gallery name and its location.
If the date is not provided, use "n.d." in your citation.
Cite the original artist's name, the title of the work, and the date it was created. Then, provide details of the website where you found the reproduction, including the URL and access date.
