Artists: how to research an
artist
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A good starting point for any art research is the Contemporary Art
Subject Guide on Library Online (click on Resources > For Your Subject
> Contemporary Art). Here you will find links to all of the databases
mentioned below, as well as useful pages such as How Do I Find
Information on...? Individual artists.
How to research an artist: basics
The artist is frequently the subject of art research. The best way to begin is to
find out some basic data about your artist.
1. The proper form of name
This is not just so that you can spell it correctly in your report or presentation.
You should make a note of all the variations of the name, as well as the form
that is most commonly used in information sources. Then you can look up
these variations in the indexes etc., so as not to miss any information, for
example:

Russian names transliterated in different ways

Medieval names spelled in various ways

Artists with nicknames

Maiden names of married women
2. Dates
That is, dates of birth, death and/or when the artist was active. This is so that
you do not waste time looking in the wrong dictionaries or indexes – especially
important when researching contemporary artists when you need to know the
date with which to begin your search.
3. Main artistic events in the artist's life
For example, art education, membership of societies, participation in
important exhibitions, the medium in which the artist worked. All this will give
you more clues to make your research more efficient.
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Leeds Metropolitan University
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Where to find this basic data
Finding information on contemporary or little-known artists requires a different
search strategy to finding information on historical figures, or on wellestablished, famous artists. Therefore this guide is in 2 parts below.
Historical and/or well-researched artists
Books, exhibition catalogues, DVDs
Since The Library at Leeds Metropolitan University is a specialist library, begin
by finding out if there are any books on your artist, or catalogues of oneperson exhibitions.
The most effective way to search for a particular artist is by typing just the
surname into the Library Catalogue and by using the Subject search.
Remember that many books about artists do not have the forename in the
title.
If you do not find the artist listed on the Library Catalogue, this only means
there is no book entirely about your artist, but there may be chapters in more
general books. Some artists can be found by searching for relevant subjects,
for example periods or styles, like surrealism.
If searching for a century, search twice: once for the numeral, once for the
spelt out version, for example 19th century painting and nineteenth century
painting.
Biographical dictionaries
Biographical dictionaries are a good starting point because they give you
enough basic information so that you do not research the wrong dates or the
wrong exhibitions etc. They always give you at least a brief biography with
dates and often additional information. Many biographical dictionaries deal
with workers in just one medium.
General biographical dictionaries
The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists
The Oxford Dictionary of American Art and Artists
There is a link to these on the Resources for your Subject pages for
Contemporary Art on Library Online. See What types of information
are available? > Books and ebooks.

Include biographical entries for artists, critics, collectors, dealers, and
patrons, with places and full dates of birth and death (in many instances
correcting misinformation that has found its way into other sources)
A Biographical Dictionary of Artists
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
Shelved at 703

There is only one volume, but it is more recent. It includes living artists. If
you are researching a minor artist, you will find that many of them are
listed in summary form in the index at the back. There is a "Chronology of
Artists" at the front that you may find useful, especially when comparing
artists or studying influences. It has a chronology of the relevant art
movements at the top of the table.
libraryonline.leedsmet.ac.uk
Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers

Shelved at 703 BRY (reference only)

This is useful because it is in English. But do not use it to obtain the
correct form of name because for some reason all artists have been put
under surname even if they are not usually known by that name (there are
cross-references). It is best to use this dictionary for the English text, but
then check the ‘Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire…’ (see below) for
the correct form of name
Contemporary Artists

Shelved at 709.05 (reference only)

This includes artists who were active between 1930 and 1980. The artist
must have worked at least five years, and have had several exhibitions, to
be included
Dictionnaire Critique et Documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs,
Dessinateurs et Graveurs, 14 vols

Shelved at 703 (reference only)

This is especially useful for finding the correct form of name and a list of
variations. It is well cross-referenced from alternative forms of name.
Artists are only included if they died before the dictionary was published,
so it cannot be used for artists. However it includes many minor and
forgotten artists not included in other dictionaries. Even if you cannot read
any French at all, you will at least get a list of alternative forms of name
and the dates, which will make your search for journal articles easier
Getty’s Union List of Artists Names (ULAN)

Online at
www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/ulan/index.html

This is a compilation from major dictionaries of artists and is very useful if
you are trying to identify someone with a common name, or an artist with
the same name as another much more famous artist. ULAN can also be
used to find out which reference books an artist is listed in
World Artists 1950-1980: an H.W. Wilson biographical dictionary
World Artists 1980-1990: an H.W. Wilson biographical dictionary

Both shelved at 709. 05 (reference only)

The articles are quite long, so these dictionaries are selective. There is a
checklist of artists included in the front of the volume, for quick reference
British artists
Many biographical dictionaries concentrate on artists from one country and
therefore can include many more minor artists. The following specialise in
British artists:
The Dictionary of British Artists, 1880-1940

Shelved at 703 (942) (reference only)
libraryonline.leedsmet.ac.uk
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
This only gives the dates during which the artist exhibited. Entries are
very brief to allow room for as many artists as possible (it covers 41,000
artists)
Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900-1950

Shelved at 703 (942) (reference only)

This includes many provincial artists not covered elsewhere
Women artists
Many of the biographical dictionaries, especially the older ones, do not include
women artists. However there are now some special dictionaries:
American Women Artists: from Early Indian Times to the Present

Shelved at 706.907 (reference only)

This covers most art media and includes the Feminist Art Movement. It is
in chronological order with an alphabetical index the back There is a
bibliography on pages 476-516
Dictionary of Women Artists, 2 vols

Shelved at 704.042 (reference only)
Dictionary of Women Artists: an International Dictionary of Women
Artists Born Before 1900

Shelved at 706.907 (reference only)

An international dictionary of women artists born before 1900. It includes
painters, sculptors, printmakers and illustrators. There are bibliographical
references at the end of each entry. These are explained in the
bibliography at the back (starting on page 781)
The Society of Women Artists Exhibitors 1855-1996, 4 vols

Shelved at 700.8203 (reference only)

A dictionary of artists and their works in the annual exhibitions
Sculptors
Dictionary of British Sculptors, 1660-1851

Shelved at 730.9 (942) (reference only)

This includes foreign sculptors who worked in Britain
Printmakers
Dictionary of British Steel Engravers
4

Shelved at 769.9 (942) (reference only)

This only covers the 19th century. The abbreviations at the end of some
of the entries refer to the "List of sources" at the front of the book
libraryonline.leedsmet.ac.uk
Dictionary of Victorian Engravers, Print Publishers and their Work
Dictionary of Victorian Wood Engravers

Both shelved at 769.9 (942) (reference only)

These are companion volumes. At the end of each entry there is a list of
the books (authors only) and journals from which the information was
obtained. The full details of the books are listed at the front of the volume
Prints and Printmaking: a Dictionary and Handbook of the Art in
Nineteenth-Century Britain

Shelved at 769.9 (942) (reference only)

This covers British 19th century printmakers, but it includes 18th century
engravers who were still alive in 1810. The biographical dictionary is the
second half of the volume. The abbreviations are explained on page 107
Painters by subject and theme
Many biographical dictionaries, especially for painters, specialise still further
and deal with painters by theme or subject:
A Biographical Dictionary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists

Shelved at 741.6 (reference only)
A Dictionary of British Animal Painters

Shelved at 758.3 (942) (reference only)
The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists

Shelved at 758.3 (942) (reference only)
Dictionary of British Flower, Fruit, and Still Life Painters, 2 vols. 15151849 and 1850-1950

Shelved at 758.4 (942) (reference only)
A Dictionary of British Landscape Painters: from the 16th Century to the
Early 20th Century

Shelved at 758.103 (942) (reference only)
Dictionary of British Marine Painters

Shelved at 758.2 (942) (reference only)
A Dictionary of British Miniature Painters, 2 vols.

Shelved at 757.703 (942) (reference only)
A Dictionary of British Sporting Painters

Shelved at 758.3 (942) (reference only)
Dictionary of Sea Painters

Shelved at 758.2 (reference only)
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European Flower Painters

Shelved at 758.4203 (reference only)
Popular 19th Century Painting: a Dictionary of European Genre Painters

Shelved at 754 (reference only)
This list is selective, there are many more. Many subject encyclopaedias of
art, especially those that cover just one art movement, such as
Expressionism, include entries for artists.
Remember that the Art Library within Leeds Central Library also has a
reference section.
Journal articles
Journal articles can be used as "primary sources" of information; that is the
articles and exhibition reviews contemporary with the artist; they can also be
used for historical information. The following indexes list articles under artist's
name.
Art Full Text

On Resources > Databases page of Library Online

Covers journals published since 1984. It is an index from 1984-1993; from
1994 onwards it also has abstracts (summaries of content); from 1997 it
also links to full text. It covers a wide range of topics in art, architecture
and design. Very good for researching design companies
Art Retrospective

On Resources > Databases page of Library Online

Covers international art journals, yearbooks, and museum bulletins
including references to reproductions of works of art that appear in cited
publications. Subject areas include art, crafts, interior design, museology,
etc.
JSTOR

On Resources > Databases page of Library Online

JSTOR is a digitized journal archive, not a current issues database. It is
regularly updated and has a capacity to search across disciplines. It
covers most areas of the Arts
Discover

On home page of Library Online

Discover is the Library’s search engine that allows you to search across
many Library resources in a single search, including records from the
Library Catalogue and most of our electronic journal and information
databases
On the Resources > For Your Subject pages on Library Online, you
will find lists of relevant journals within the Contemporary Art, Design or
Graphic Design pages. Many of these are electronic journals that you can
access both on and off campus.
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Minor and new artists
This strategy can be used either when you have found nothing by searching
under the artist's name, or when you have found very little information by this
method.
Directories
Contemporary Artists

Shelved at 709.05 (reference only)

This has been mentioned above in the biographical dictionaries section,
but it can also be used as a directory because it gives the artist's address
and the address of the dealer
The Royal Academy of Art: a Complete Dictionary of Contributors and
their Work from its Foundation in 1769 to 1904
Royal Academy Exhibitors, 1905-1989: a Dictionary of Artists and their
Work in the Summer Exhibitions of the Royal Academy of Arts, 7 vols.

Both shelved at 703 (reference only)

Both of these are alphabetical lists of artists who exhibited at the RA
giving lists of what they exhibited, in what year, and the addresses at
which they lived at any given period
Who’s Who in American Art, 1989-90

Shelved at 700.92 (973) (reference only)

Covers Canada and Mexico as well as the US. It gives the artist's address
at the end of the article
The following four are in fact the same directory which changes its name
almost every time it is published. Apart from the first, they are international.
They all give a list of exhibitions and, from 1982 onwards, they also give the
gallery addresses. They are very useful for minor and/or new artists who have
only exhibited in group exhibitions.
Contemporary British Artists
Dictionary of Contemporary Artists
Guide to Exhibited Artists, 5 vols.
International Directory of Exhibiting Artists 1982-3, 2 vols.

All shelved at 709.05 (reference only)
Newspaper articles
Information on contemporary or little-known artists can sometimes be difficult
to obtain. It helps to know something about the kind of work they have done
so that you can search under subject instead of under the name: for example
if you have found out from a dictionary or directory that the artist took part in a
group exhibition. Exhibitions are reviewed in newspapers as well as
magazines. There are indexes to help you to find newspaper articles about
artists.
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Nexis

On Library Online under Resources > Journals and Newspapers

Covers major world newspapers including Asia/Pacific, European, US,
and some regional newspapers
Information from organisations
Sometimes, there is not enough information available in The Library on the
artist you are researching. If so, use directories to find other organisations
from which to obtain information.
Biographical dictionaries (see above) frequently tell you if the artist belongs to
a society or sells through a particular dealer.
The addresses of most societies and associations are listed in:
Directory of British Associations: and Associations in Ireland

Shelved at 062 DIR (Quick Reference on the ground floor)

Arranged in alphabetical order, giving the address and telephone number

If you are not sure whether the person you are researching belonged to
any societies, use the subject index for possible sources of information
There are several directories with art gallery addresses in The Library. The
most comprehensive is:
International Directory of Arts, 3 vols.

Shelved at 700.25 (Quick Reference on the ground floor)

This is divided into sections. Volume 1 includes the sections "museums",
"associations". Volume 2 includes the sections "art galleries" (this means
commercial galleries) and "publishers" (this means art publishers and
lithographers)

Each section is arranged alphabetically by country, then by city or town
Information from other libraries
In order to find out if there are any books in the Leeds Central Library (on The
Headrow in Leeds City Centre), you can search their Library Catalogue http://prism.talis.com/leeds. The Art Library is excellent for finding out
information on local artists.
Many professional associations have a library and information service, and
may sometimes be prepared to help you even if you are not a member. The
largest art library in Britain is the National Art Library in the Victoria and Albert
Museum, London. It has an extensive collection of exhibition catalogues and
several special collections. Their catalogue can also be searched online http://catalogue.nal.vam.ac.uk
Information from artists
Obviously a very important source of information on any artist is the artist's
own words or writings. This should be done at a late stage in your search. Do
not annoy people by asking them for information you could have found in a
library. In any case, not only visits and interviews, but also letters and emails,
will be much more useful when you already know enough to be able to ask
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informed questions. When you want to interview an artist, always make an
appointment. Also, it is better to write first and say what sort of information you
want to prevent a wasted journey. For more information see The Library guide
‘Artists' statements: literature searching in fine art’.
Artists addresses
Some of the directories give the artists’ addresses at the end of the article. If
your artist uses a particular gallery, they will usually forward letters for you,
and so will most societies or associations. The directories for finding these are
outlined above.
Further help
Library staff are always happy to help with any queries you may have.

Phone Us (0113) 812 1000 - you can also get 24/7 IT support on this
number

Email Us - via the Need Help? page on Library Online
http://libraryonline.leedsmet.ac.uk

Visit Us - come to the Help and Information Points for Library account
and borrower enquiries, IT support and help with research or finding
information
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