GREEK AND ROMAN ART

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

The Dictionary of Art (REF N 31 .D5 1996)
Despite its title, this multivolume reference work is really an encyclopedia. Monumental in scope, it is the largest and most comprehensive reference work on the visual arts that has ever been published. Don't start any research on art without checking this source. It is also available online as Oxford Art Online.
Encyclopedia of World Art (REF N 31 .E533)
Although older than the encyclopedia above, this is still a useful and scholarly work. It is richly illustrated with thousands of color and black-and-white plates, which are all found together at the back of each volume.
Cambridge Ancient History (REF D 57 .C252)
Read all about the political, social, and general history of the era in which the art was created. This is very important background from an authoritative, but very readable, source.
Encyclopedia of Archaeology (REF CC 110 .E54 1999)
Most surviving ancient art was discovered during archaeological excavations. Learn more about these excavations, and the context in which the artwork was found, in this five-volume encyclopedia. Other archaeology reference books are shelved nearby.
Masterpieces of Greek Art (REF N 5630 .S35)
This is a catalog of the most familiar works of Greek art in all forms. Each item comes with a superb illustration and a one-page essay. There are, most unfortunately, no bibliographies. It makes for inspirational looking if you haven't selected a topic yet. Any item in here would make an excellent choice.
Atlas of the Classical World (REF DE 29 .H463)
Atlas of the Greek and Roman World in Antiquity (REF G 1033 .A84 1981)
Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World (REF G 1033 .B3 2000)
Yes! Atlases! This is not a misprint. Once you have selected your object and/or decided on your topic, see where it fits geographically. It really is very interesting!

 GUIDES TO MYTHOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM

Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary & Artistic Sources (REF BL 782 .G34 1993)
When you need detailed background on a Greek myth, this is the book to use. It tells which ancient authors relate a particular story, how their versions differ, and exactly where in their works you can find their accounts. It also discusses how the myths are represented in ancient art and describes specific examples.
Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Symbols, Attributes & Associations (REF BL 715 .B44)
Dictionary of Classical Mythology (REF BL 715 .G713 1986)
Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology (REF BL 715 .G67 1973)
These three are a few of many such dictionaries, which can be found in the same general area, BL 715. They are useful sources of summary and explanation if you are researching an art work with a classical theme or iconography.
Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (REF N 7560 .H34 1979)
This is exactly what it sounds like it is. It provides brief definitions on a wide range of subjects, objects, and concepts encountered in Western art.
Dictionary of Pictorial Subjects from Classical Literature (REF N 7760 .P68 1983)
This is a truly unique work. It links pictures/scenes with related classical literary references.
The Mythical Zoo  (REF GR 705 .S344 2001)
This is an encyclopedia of animals in world mythology.  If you want to understand why a certain animal is represented in a work of classical art, this is the book for you.

 SCHOLARLY INDEXES

There are two scholarly indexing services you can use to research ancient art. You will find different things in each of them as well as some duplication. They look and work very differently. You will want to use both of these, for this is where the really good stuff is to be found!

Art Index, 1929-
If you do not already know this source - get with it! This is the basic index to the journal literature in the field of art since 1929. Once you are ready to start looking for journal articles on your subject, you should always look here first.
L'Ann´ee Philologique, 1924- (REF Z 7016 .M35 A4)
This is the index to what has been published on the Greco-Roman and early Christian world, up to 800 A.D. It is in French, but don't let that scare you. It indexes publications in English, too. Just follow the instructions on our handout entitled "L'Ann´ee Philologique: The Thrill of Research." L'Ann´ee Philologique is now available online, where it can be searched in English; so far, only the years since 1949 have been completed. Other years will follow later.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Greek and Roman Art, Architecture, and Archaeology: An Annotated Bibliography (REF Z 5932.3 .C68 1987)
This is a quick way to find out what books are most likely to be helpful without having to look at them all yourself. It is arranged by rather broad subtopics, but it is not difficult to browse. The annotations are very useful.
Guide to Research in Classical Art and Mythology (REF N 7760 .V3 1991)
This is a rather chatty guide for the novice researcher. It identifies the core sources/authorities in the field and will tell you what's best to use for what!

 OSCAR TIPS

  • Look up specific monuments/buildings/works as well as all topics in the KEYWORD search mode rather than SUBJECT. Switch, if you want, only after you have found good subject headings.

  • Keep track of all the keywords and subject headings that proved especially helpful.

  • To find out if we have a journal article you need, be sure to look up the journal title, not the article title, in OSCAR.

In KEYWORD searching:

  • Use more than one concept at a time, e.g. pompeii and mosaics.

  • Truncate (use the*) to pick up all the variations of a word (for example, pompeii* will pick up pompeii and pompeiian.)

  • Do more than one search. Try different words. Don't just do the KEYWORD search pompeii* and mosaic*. Also do pompeii* and art, or roman and mosaic*. THE MORE THE MERRIER!

RESOURCES IN OTHER LIBRARIES

The better a researcher you are, the more likely you will want something we do not have in this library. If it is a book, look under LINK+ in OSCAR to see if any of the participating libraries in California have it. If they do, request it online, and the book should arrive here for you within 3 days. If it is not in LINK+ , or if you need a journal article, request it through OSCAR's interlibrary loan option, through which we can get photocopies of journal articles, and borrow books, from most other libraries in the U.S. Although some articles are available through faxing, many things take two weeks to get here, so start your research early! As an alternative, we can also help you find which library in the area owns a particular book or journal, and you can go there yourself to use it.

This page created by Leanna Goodwater, University Library, Santa Clara University.
Last updated January 14, 2009.