Category: Art History Basics
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How to Research Art – A Guide
It’s back to school time, and that makes me feel even more scholarly than usual. So, I thought it would be nice to talk about a school-type subject – researching art. This guide gives advice about types of sources, choosing good sources, thinking critically, tackling challenging topics, and more.
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The Best Books for Learning Art History
Looking for some reading material for your art history adventure? Let me recommend some great books (and a few online alternatives).
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Five subjects to help you understand art (besides art history)
For the avid learners among my readers, discover five subject areas (besides art history) you can study to help you better understand art and architecture.
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Eight Tips for Studying Art History on Your Own
There are many resources but little guidance for those studying art history on their own. Here’s how to get the most out of your art history self-study.
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What is Attribution?
Understand attribution, the process by which art historians make educated suppositions about who made an artwork when they don’t know the artist for sure.
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Period Eye: Seeing Old Art With Modern Eyes
We all know that all sorts of things were different in the past. But have you ever considered how that impacts the way you look at art?
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What Are Votives? They’re Not Just Candles.
When I saw Agents of Faith: Votive Objects in Time and Place, the show was almost over. Instead of writing a review, I’ll explain what votives are.
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The Basilica and How It Became a Church
The word basilica is often used to refer to a church, but the two aren’t synonyms. Learn about the basilica’s origins and adoption into Christianity.
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What is Provenance, and Why is It Important?
Provenance is artwork’s ownership history, and it helps determine if a work is genuine and honest. It’s very important in art history and the art market.
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What is Genre Painting?
We can talk about genres of paintings like genres of movies or books. But Genre Painting is also one of those genres. Learn to understand the difference.
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Fun Words I Learned Studying Art
I’ve learned so many cool words while studying art history. Here are six of my favorites along with definitions and artwork examples of each one.
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Giorgio Vasari, the First Art Historian
Giorgio Vasari is considered the father of art history. A new biography of Vasari, published in 2017, takes a complete look at his life and work.
