Start with a specific question
Search an artist, title, medium or subject. Try name variants and a broader date range when results are empty. One catalogue may cover several buildings: check each record’s location.
Art guide
Explore art collections online
Official catalogues for finding artworks, comparing media and continuing a visit.
Read beyond the image
Record the date, material, dimensions, accession number and attribution. “Workshop of”, “attributed to” and “after” mean different relationships to an artist. Keep approximate dates and cautious attributions in your notes.
Compare carefully
Compare two works with a shared subject through format, support, composition and context. Screen size is not actual size. Colours vary with photography and your screen; a digital image cannot reproduce surface or the experience of space.
Cite and check usage conditions
Keep the record URL, institution and accession number. Before reusing an image, read its rights statement and the catalogue terms. Being able to view or download an image does not imply unconditional permission to republish it.
Selected official catalogues
Frequently asked questions
Do catalogues only include works on display?
No. Records may describe works in storage, on loan or at another site. Check exhibition status separately where available.
How can I find an artwork after visiting?
Use the accession number from the label, or search the artist’s name and a word from the title in the official catalogue.
Method and limits
Editorial advice. Visit conditions and image rights depend on each institution; consult its official information.