Research Guides
- University of Washington Libraries
- Library Guides
- UW Libraries
- Art
- Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
Art: Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
This guide offers the top recommended resources for Art, Art History, and Design.
General Starting Points
Encyclopedia & Dictionaries Guide
Encyclopedias and dictionaries provide background information on a wide range of topics that can help generate ideas or answer preliminary questions.
Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Bibliographies Online
- Oxford Art Online This link opens in a new window
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Think of this as the "scholarly Wikipedia" for information on artists and art history. Includes art reference works, including the Grove Art Online, Companion of Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, biographies, and encyclopedias. - Oxford Bibliographies This link opens in a new window
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Scholarly, annotated listings of the most important and significant sources on social sciences and humanities subjects. Explore the "Art History" tab!
- Oxford Reference Online: Art & ArchitectureMultiple art reference works related to art terms, artists, styles, movements, etc.
- Encyclopedia of Decorative ArtsContains over 3,000 entries covering thousands of years of decorative arts production throughout western and non-western cultures.