Citing Art: Mla Style Guide For Visual Works

Citing a painting in an essay using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style requires more information than a standard text source. The artist's name should be listed first, followed by the title of the painting in italics, the year it was created, the museum or gallery where it's located, and the city. For example, Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. If you viewed the painting online, include the URL at the end of the citation.

Artist's full name and title of painting

To cite a painting in an essay using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, you need to include the artist's full name and the title of the painting. The artist's name should appear first, with their last name followed by their first name and middle name or initial, if available. The title of the painting should be in italics, followed by the word "painting" in brackets. For example:

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV [Painting].

If the painting is untitled, you can provide a brief description of the painting along with the artist's name. For example:

Goya, Francisco. Portrait of the Duchess of Alba [Painting].

In the body of your essay, you can simply cite the artist's full name followed by the title of the work in italics. For example:

"In Francisco Goya's The Family of Charles IV, he creates a contrast of light and dark."

If you are citing a painting you saw in person, the basic format remains the same, but you should also include the year of creation, museum name, and city, as well as the URL if you accessed the painting on the museum's website. Here is an example:

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid, museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

This information is essential to properly cite a painting and provide your readers with the details they need to locate and verify your source.

Year of creation, museum and city

When citing a painting in an essay in MLA style, you need to include the artist's name, the title of the painting, the year it was created, the museum where it is housed, and the city where the museum is located. Here is an example of how to cite a painting in MLA format, followed by a breakdown of each element:

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

Now, let's break down each element of the citation:

Artist's Name:

For the artist's name, you should provide their full name, with the last name first, followed by a comma, and then their first name. For example, "Leutze, Emmanuel." This follows the same format as listing the author of a book in an MLA citation.

The title of the painting should be provided in italics. For example, the full title of the work cited above is "Washington Crossing the Delaware."

Year of Creation:

The year the painting was created is typically provided in numerals, as seen in the example ("1851").

Museum and City:

The citation should include the name of the museum or gallery where the painting is housed, followed by a comma, and then the city where the museum is located. For instance, "Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City." Note that the name of the museum is not italicized.

It is important to be consistent and follow the MLA format guidelines when citing a painting in an essay to ensure your citations are clear and accurate.

Description of materials and dimensions

When citing a painting in MLA style, it is important to include a description of the materials and dimensions of the artwork. Here is a guide on how to describe the materials and dimensions effectively:

Materials

The materials used in a painting refer to the medium or media, which includes the binder, surface, type of paint, and support or surface used for painting. For example, "oil on canvas" indicates that oil paint was used on a canvas surface. Other examples include "acrylic on wood" or "watercolor on paper." The materials used can provide insight into the techniques employed by the artist and the overall texture and appearance of the painting.

Dimensions

When listing the dimensions of a painting, it is standard practice to list the height followed by the width, and then the depth if applicable. For example, a painting's dimensions might be listed as "48 x 36 inches", indicating a height of 48 inches and a width of 36 inches. It is important to note that the measurements typically refer to the outer size of the canvas or base material and do not include the frame unless it is an integral part of the artwork.

By including a detailed description of the materials and dimensions in your MLA citation, you provide valuable information that helps others understand the scale, medium, and physical characteristics of the painting you are referencing.

Gallery/museum name and location

When citing a painting in an essay using the MLA format, it is important to include the gallery or museum name and location. The specific format for your citation may vary depending on the source of the painting and whether you are citing a standalone painting or a museum exhibition.

For a painting viewed in person or online, the basic format for the gallery or museum name and location is as follows:

> Year of creation, Name of Museum or Gallery, City of the museum or gallery

For example:

> 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid

Or:

> 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

If you viewed the painting on the museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container and include the URL at the end of the citation. The format would look like this:

> Year of creation, Name of Museum or Gallery, City of the museum or gallery. Title of Website, URL

For example:

> 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Museo del Prado Website, https://www.museodelprado.es

If you are citing a museum exhibition, follow the MLA format template, which includes the exhibition's name, opening and closing dates, museum name, and city. Here is the basic format:

> Exhibition name. Opening date-Closing date, Museum name, City

For example:

> Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains. 12 Mar.-4 Dec. 2016, National Museum of the American Indian, New York

Website name, publisher and URL

When citing a painting in an essay using the MLA format, the website name, publisher, and URL are crucial components of the citation. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to include this information effectively:

• Website Name and Publisher: If you viewed the painting on a museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container. Include the website's publisher unless it is the same as the name of the website. For example, "Museo del Prado, www.museodelprado.es." The publisher information can be omitted if it matches the website name.
• URL Format: When providing the URL in your citation, it is recommended to enclose the complete address in angle brackets. Place a period after the closing angle bracket to conclude the citation. For instance, "http://www.example.com."
• Order of Elements: The specific order of elements in your citation may vary depending on the style guide you are using. Generally, the basic structure would be: Artist's Last Name, Artist's First Name. Title of Artwork. Year. Museum or Collection, City. Website Name, Publisher, URL.
• Access Date: Including the access date is optional in MLA 8th edition. However, if there is no publication date provided, it is advisable to include the access date to indicate the timeliness of the information.
• In-Text Citations: MLA style does not typically require parenthetical in-text citations for paintings. Instead, provide the artist's name, followed by the title of the work in italics within the body of your essay. For example, "In Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, the night sky takes centre stage."
• Additional Information: Depending on the style guide and the nature of the painting (original or reproduction), you may include other details such as the medium, dimensions, and page or reference numbers if relevant.

Remember to consult the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or a reputable style guide website for the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidelines on citing paintings in MLA format.

Frequently asked questions