History of Art and Architecture

Image Resources

Below is a list of links to art history image resources with geographical and descriptive categories.

Website TitleDescriptionCategories
A&A - Art and Architecture - The Courtauld Institute of ArtThe A&A website is a large database of images that spans paintings, prints, sculpture and architecture. The website is easy to browse and search. Also, the images are of very good quality and can be examined closer with the zoom function. Worldwide
AICT - Art Images for College TeachingAICT houses images of architecture and sculpture from worldwide locations from ancient history through the 20th century. Each of the images is accompanied by a description of the image and detailed references. For each image, there are two sizes available for download with instructions given. 

Europe
Asia
Architecture Sculpture

 

Archive of Early American Images - The John Carter Brown Library, Brown UniversityThis archive describes itself as a "database of graphic representations of the colonial Americas, from Hudson Bay to Tierra del Fuego, drawn entirely from primary sources printed or created between 1492 and ca. 1825." Each image is accompanied by an extensive amount of information including physical characteristics and historical notes. The user can zoom in and out on the image and it can be exported from the site.

Americas
Printed Media

 

Art Institute of Chicago - CollectionsThe Institute has compiled a collection of images that are each accompanied by a detailed description including historical and descriptive analysis. The site's range of images includes paintings, pottery, decorative objects, architecture and design from around the world. In addition to the more commonly found images, the site also has a section devoted to arms and armor and miniature rooms. Worldwide
Atlantic Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Americas: A Visual Record - University of VirginiaThis is a smaller but comprehensive media database specifically devoted to the Atlantic slave trade with the Americas. It contains a mix of drawings, photographs and paintings that are accompanied by source information, text captions and/or description from the text. They have specifically excluded giving any image analysis which is beyond the scope of the project. 

Americas
Africa
Printed Media

 

CAMIO - Catalog of Art Museum Images OnlineCAMIO is a large online image database that represents the collections of "prominent museums." Images are available in full online or through direct download. It is possible to search for images or browse by category or through the contributing museum. Also, the website is available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Thai and Korean. Worldwide
CORSAIR - Images from Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts"The collection spans some ten centuries of Western illumination, and contains manuscripts from all the major schools, including some of the great masterpieces of medieval manuscript art. The images and accompanying descriptions are the product of an extraordinary collaboration between the Library and the Index of Christian Art to photograph, digitize, and describe all significant illustrations within the Library's medieval and Renaissance manuscripts." Images can be viewed as separate pages or can be viewed in order (like a book format.) Also, each page is accompanied by a detailed description which makes searching extremely easy. There is also a printable version with description. 

Europe
Manuscripts

 

Digital Imaging Project The Digital Imaging Project is a collection of images of "sculpture and architecture from pre-historic to post modern." The featured image collections are accompanied with a detailed historical description and a substantial image pool. Collections that have not been featured have a description and image pool, although not as large. Browsing is easy by country in the outline format and the user can also browse by artist or architect. 

Worldwide

Historical Sites

Digital ScriptoriumThe Scriptorium contains a large number of manuscripts collected from different libraries and institutions around the world. Each manuscript has many of its pages available as small, medium or large images of extremely good quality. With each image, there is a simple explanation of the picture shown. Often, there is also a description of the manuscripts particular characteristics.

Europe

Manuscripts

eKokuhou - National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties of National Museums, JapaneKokuhou offers a large collection of images from national Japanese museums. Images are available on the website in fantastic detail and images that feature objects are often available in several different views. Also, each image is accompanied by a detailed description including specifications and history. The website is available in English, Japanese, Chinese, French and Korean.Asia
Google Art ProjectThe Art Project is a compilation of many museums around the world. Images from the museums are available through search or browse. But, the museums can also be explored through an interactive program. It allows the user to move around inside the museum and select the artwork. However, the images can be only viewed online and cannot be downloaded from the website.

Worldwide

Interactive

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History - Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe images can be viewed by browsing through the timeline or region or by advanced search. For each region, a physical timeline is viewable with a description for each time period. For each image, a detailed description is given along with citations. Worldwide
Historic CitiesThis site contains historical maps, literature, documents, books and other materials related to historical cities. Images can be viewed in low resolution or high resolution. Each of the map images is accompanied by the date of publication, the map maker and any other relevant information if available. 

Worldwide

Maps

Japanese Historical Maps - East Asian Library - University of California, BerkeleyThe database is predominantly made up of Japanese historical maps from before 1890. The collection also includes some Japanese-made world maps. The collection also includes some rare maps from the Tokogawa period and early maps of Edo. Each image is accompanied by an extensive amount of information including physical characteristics and historical notes. The user can zoom in and out on the image and can be exported from the site.

Asia

Maps

Library of Congress - American MemoryThe Library of Congress has compiled a large database focusing on collections devoted to American history. Within a category, there are many collections, each exhibiting a different form of media. These include photographs, drawings, transcripts, personal writings, film and etc. Although it varies by collection, most of the media appears to be available for direct download. Americas
Manyo'an Collection of Japanese ArtThis collection "focuses on Edo-period (1615–1868) works in the Zenga, Nanga, Rinpa, Maruyama-Shijo, Ukiyoe, and Eccentric styles with an increasing focus on 20th century paintings and ceramics." Works can be browsed through a number of different categories (including by school, kiln and subject matter) plus a search function. Each image has a physical description along with information on exhibits. Also, by clicking on the image, the user can zoom in for further detail. The website has some functions available in Japanese.Asia
Maps of Africa - Stanford UniversityThis database includes printed historical maps of Africa from the late 15th century to the early 20th century. Each image is accompanied by an extensive amount of information including physical characteristics and historical notes. The user can zoom in and out on the image and can be exported from the site.

Africa

Maps

New York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library Digital Gallery contains a vast database of images from almost every medium. It features printed arts, literature, photographs, manuscripts, and maps. Collections are associated with and extremely detailed history, related sources and related subjects. Each image is available in a large size with a detailed description. Worldwide
Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection - University of Texas Library OnlineThis collection contains images of maps of cities, countries and landmasses. Maps are divided up by themes such as topographical, road details, population and historical. Links to outside resources accompany many of the map images. Some images are available in a downloadable PDF format while other are only available as JPEGs. 

Worldwide

Maps

Ross Archive of African Images - Yale UniversityThis site features African art before 1921. This includes "figurative African objects in books, periodicals, catalogues, newspapers and other publications." Images are presented with the original text caption and often with an English translation. Images are also available for direct download. Africa
Sistine ChapelThis Vatican website provides a 3D walk-through of the Sistine Chapel. It is possible to zoom in closer on all the walls, the floor and the ceiling in order to see the detailed renderings. However, there is not information provided, just images. 

Europe

Interactive

Smithsonian Institution Online CollectionThe Smithsonian's online collection provides images related to the museum's holding plus access to the archives and research holdings. Images are not available by direct download but can be saved from the website. Images can be found by search or browse. Worldwide
State Hermitage MuseumThis site offers an easy-to-use interface to view paintings from many different areas/times that are housed at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The paintings can be browsed by many different categories (such as schools, styles, exhibitions and themes.) Notes, including physical descriptions, and  historical notes are included with many of the images. 

Worldwide

Paintings

Theban Mapping Project - American University in CairoThe Theban Mapping Project is a comprehensive archaeological database of Thebes and some surrounding areas. It offers 3D models of each of the tombs along with a detailed description of the history of the site, images associated with tomb and structural features. Also, the user has the ability of focus on different sections of the tomb and explore further. Enter the interactive map by clicking 'Launch Atlas.' There are also downloadable resources and links to corresponding articles. 

Africa

Interactive

The Warburg Institute Iconographic Database

This fantastic collection of images from the Warburg may still be browsed by iconography, but also contains a full-text search feature for finding particular images.

Europe

Web Gallery of Art - European Fine Arts 1000-1850The Web Gallery of Art is a searchable online database of European art. It specifically targets the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism periods. Images are also associated with commentaries, specifications and author biographies. The images are of good quality and available as many different sizes. 

Europe

Paintings

Sculpture

WorldImages Kiosk - California State UniversityWorldImages is a large image database that covers a wide variety of historical periods and regions. Images are available through browse or advanced search but there is limited description/analysis. Images are also occasionally associated with a link to a portfolio. Worldwide