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ARTH 347 - Great Masters' Materials and Techniques

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Book Search Tips

  • Check the location, availability and call number before heading to the shelf.
  • Not sure how to read a call number? Watch this video on Youtube.
  • Books are organized by subject, so take time to browse the shelves. You might find something useful you didn't see in the catalog.
  • Get books from other SCAD locations or place a hold with the request service.

How to Read a Call Number

Image outlines instructions on how to read a call number. Read the first line in alphabetical order. This refers to the subject. Read the second line as a whole number. This refers to the subcategory. Read the third (and fourth, if present) line in combination: First read the letter alphabetically then read the number as a decimal. Read the last line in chronological order. This is the publication date.

Want to browse the shelves for a particular subject? Explore the call number guide below:

Analyze a Work Of Art

When analyzing a work of art, it's helpful to develop and apply a list of relevant questions. Consider:

  • Subject matter - What is being depicted? (May require researching a related place, figure or event - e.g. from religion or mythology)
  • Material and form - What is the size, shape, line, texture, color, etc.? How do these affect the way you "see" the subject?
  • Social and historical contexts - When, where, and why was the work made?
  • What were the artist's intentions (if known)?

Barnet's A Short Guide to Writing About Art provides many useful examples of analytical questions and is a required/recommended text for most Art History courses.