LibGuides: Artists and Artworks: A Step-by-Step Research Guide: At the Museum

Area Art Museums

TCNJ Art Gallery

Metropolitan Museum of Art

New Jersey State Museum
(Fine Arts Galleries, 2nd floor)

Philadelphia Museum of Art front entrance.
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Princeton University Art Museum

Colorful mosaic.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Researching at the Museum

Information gathered at the museum is critical to your research. Take the time to experience your chosen work of art. Understanding involves a combination of looking, noticing, describing (formal analysis), and contextualizing.

Step 1a: Photograph the artwork from mulitple angles. Better yet, sketch it.

This will make writing about the object much easier.
This will make locating the object in other resources easier.
If you have time, draw or sketch the object. This will force you to notice the work's formal aspects such as color, composition, line, mass, scale, shape, space (negative and positive), and texture, among others.
Please respect each museum's photography policy.
Do not rely on your memory (also applies to Steps 1b and 1c).

Step 1b: Write down (or photograph) the wall text, including accession number.

This is the most important information you can gather at the museum.
Words in the text will serve as your search terms (keywords) when searching for articles/books about your object.

Step 1c: Write down (or photograph) other relevant wall text in the gallery.

Again, use those keywords to search Art Index, JSTOR, and other databases.
This will also help to contextualize your work.

Step 1d: Write down (or journal) your reaction to the piece:

How does the piece make you feel?
Does something about it stand out to you?
Describe the work (formal analysis).

Step 1e: Visit the Museum Library.

Museum libraries collect materials specifically related to their objects.
Museum librarians know the objects and the research materials related to them as well as anyone. Ask the librarian at the museum for help.
Museum libraries generally welcome researchers, but read the guest policies.

Find Museums and Arts Organizations: Directories

American Art Directory
Call Number: N50 .A54 (Reference Stacks)
Publication Date: current ed.
A classic reference work published by R. R. Bowker, this directory provides hard-to-find information about local and national art museums and other cultural institutions. Locate hard-to-find information such as annual operating budget, collection strengths (e.g., Pre-Columbian Art), etc. Also useful for students looking for art schools, art libraries, art editors and critics, scholarships, fellowships, exhibitions and state art councils.
Art Across America: A Comprehensive Guide to American Art Museums and Exhibition Galleries by John J. Russell (Editor); Thomas S. Spencer (Editor)
Call Number: N510 .A777 2000 (Reference Stacks)
ISBN: 0966714415
Publication Date: 2003-09-01
The Official Museum Directory
Call Number: AM10.A2 O4 (Reference Stacks)
Publication Date: current ed. (2022)
Published by the American Association of Museums since 1971, this classic reference work, published annually, provides information about museums across the United States and Canada. Organizations are listed alphabetically by state and then locality. There are hundreds of entries for New Jersey.