Priya Kapoor
When writing a research paper, it is essential to properly cite your sources. Citing a painting typically requires more information than citing a book. Purdue OWL provides an overview of how to cite sources using MLA format, including how to format the Works Cited page and in-text citations. The Purdue OWL citation for a painting viewed online follows the format: Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name, Title of Artwork, Year of Creation, Museum, City, Website in Italics, Date Accessed. If you see the painting in person, the format is the same, but you replace the website information with the name of the gallery or museum, followed by a comma and the city where the museum is located.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist's name | Required |
| Artist's first name | Required |
| Title of artwork | Required |
| Description | Required if no title |
| Year of creation | Required |
| Museum or gallery | Required |
| City of museum or gallery | Required |
| Medium | Required |
| Dimensions | Required |
| Physical location | Required |
| URL | Required if accessed online |
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What You'll Learn
Citing a painting in person
When citing a painting in person using the MLA format, you should follow a similar structure to that of the original artwork, including the artist's name, the title of the work in italics, the date of creation, and the name of the institution that houses the artwork, along with its location if it is not included in the name of the institution. Here is an example of how to cite a painting in person using MLA format:
Example 1
Goya, Francisco. *The Family of Charles IV*. 1800, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.
In this example, the artist's name is "Francisco Goya," the title of the painting is "The Family of Charles IV," and it was created in 1800. The painting is housed in the "Museo Nacional del Prado" in Madrid.
Example 2
Van Gogh, Vincent. *Night Café*. 1889, Yale University Gallery, New Haven.
Here, the artist is "Vincent Van Gogh," the painting is titled "Night Café," and it was created in 1889. The institution housing the artwork is the "Yale University Gallery" located in New Haven.
Additional Elements
When citing a painting in person, you may also include other relevant details such as the medium (e.g., oil on canvas, tempera, fresco) and any specific collection or gallery within the institution that houses the artwork.
It is worth noting that the MLA format allows for flexibility, and you can adjust the format slightly to fit the specific artwork or context. Additionally, always refer to the latest edition of the MLA Handbook or consult a reputable style guide for the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidelines.
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Citing a painting online
When citing a painting online in MLA format, you should follow this general structure:
> Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name. "Title of Artwork." Year of creation, Name of Museum or Gallery, City of the museum or gallery. Name of Website, URL. Accessed date.
For example:
> Matisse, Henri. "Femme au chapeau" (Woman with a Hat). 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City. Museum of Modern Art website, www.moma.org/matisse. Accessed 26 July 2022.
Note that the URL and access date are optional elements and are not required, but they are encouraged, especially when there is no copyright date listed on a website.
If the painting does not have a title, include a description in place of the title, and if there is a date in the description, include that as well. For example:
> Cox, George C. "Walt Whitman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, wearing hat." 1887, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov/prints-photographs. Accessed 15 May 2022.
If you viewed the painting on the 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. For example:
> Goya, Francisco. "The Family of Charles IV." 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. Museo del Prado website, www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74. Accessed 22 May 2006.
This format can also be used for citing a painting you see in person; simply replace the name of the website with the name of the gallery or museum, followed by the city where the museum is located.
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Artist name format
When citing a painting in MLA format, begin with the artist's full name, followed by a period. For example: "Goya, Francisco."
The next element is the title of the painting, which should be italicized. For example: "The Family of Charles IV."
After the title, include the date of the painting's creation, followed by a period. For instance: "1800."
Next, list the institution that houses the painting, followed by a comma, and then the city where the institution is located. For example: "Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid."
If you viewed the painting on the museum's website, include the website name in italics, followed by a comma, and then the URL: "*museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74*."
Finally, indicate the date you accessed the website, preceded by the word "Accessed." For example: "Accessed 22 May 2006."
Goya, Francisco. *The Family of Charles IV*. 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. *museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74*. Accessed 22 May 2006.
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Museum/gallery name format
To cite a painting or artwork in a museum or gallery, follow the MLA format template. Begin the citation with the artist's name, followed by the title of the artwork in italics, the date of creation, the museum or gallery name, and the city where the work is housed.
> Goya, Francisco. *The Family of Charles IV*. 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.
If you viewed the painting on the museum's website, include the name of the website, the publisher of the website, and the URL. Here is an example:
> Bearden, Romare. *The Train*. 1975. MOMA, www.moma.org/collection/works/65232?locale=en.
Note that in the above example, the date is followed by a comma in the first citation and a period in the second. This is because in the first example, 1975 is in the publication-date slot on the MLA format template, whereas in the second example, 1975 indicates when the painting was created, not when it was published on the website.
To cite a museum exhibition, follow the same MLA format template. Include the exhibition's name as the title of your source, followed by the opening and closing dates of the exhibition, and the museum and city as the location. Here is an example:
> Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains. 12 Mar.-4 Dec. 2016, National Museum of the American Indian, New York.
If the exhibition features the work of a specific artist, begin your entry with the artist's name in the "author" element of the template. Here is an example:
> Cave, Nick. *Until*. 15 Oct. 2016-Aug. 2017, Mass MOCA, North Adams.
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Date of creation
When referring to a painting in MLA format, it is important to include the date of its creation. This is because the date of creation distinguishes the painting from any subsequent reproductions or publications.
The date of creation is typically included after the title of the artwork or its description. The year is sufficient for the date of creation, and it should be placed within the citation block that includes the artist's name and title of the work. Here is an example:
Leutze, Emmanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware. 1851, The Met, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11417.
As demonstrated in the example, the date of creation is "1851." It is placed after the title of the artwork, "Washington Crossing the Delaware," and before the name of the museum and the URL.
If the painting is housed in a physical museum or gallery, the date of creation can be followed by the name of the museum or gallery and the city where it is located. Here is an example:
Matisse, Henri. Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat). 1905, Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
In this example, the date of creation is "1905," and it is followed by the name of the museum, "Museum of Modern Art," and the city, "New York City."
It is worth noting that if you viewed the painting on the museum's website, the date of creation can be followed by the name of the website as the container, along with the URL. The publisher's information can be included, but it can be omitted if it is the same as the website's name. Here is an example:
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800. Museo del Prado, museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.
In summary, when referring to a painting in MLA format, the date of creation is an essential element that helps attribute the artwork to its original source. It is included within the citation block, followed by relevant information such as the museum, city, website URL, or publisher.
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Frequently asked questions
Artist’s Last Name, Artist’s First Name. Title of Artwork OR description. Year of creation, Museum, City.
Yes, if you viewed the painting on the 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 the painting does not have a title, simply provide a description of the artwork instead.
If the specific year is unknown, you may have to give a date range.
If you saw the painting in person but it is also available online, you should still include the URL in your citation.
