Home - AHST 1001 - Exploring Art History: Technology and Art (Schwab) - Research Guides at Fairfield University

Welcome!

Hello! This course guide has been created for students enrolled in Professor Schwab's art history course, AHST 1001 Exploring Art History: Technology and Art. In this guide, you will find several resources intended to help with your research coursework.

Below is a description of the pages found in the menu above:

Subject & Symbolism
Historical Context
Style & Function
Citation Resources
- You are using Chicago Notes-Bibliography Style
Art History Research Guide & Tutorials
- The Art History Research Guide provides links to library databases to search for articles, plus additional image databases,
- Selected tutorials are listed here that may be of interest. Ex: We have one for finding physical books in the Library.

Research librarians are available to help you! See the box on this page for the various ways to get help.OR contact the librarian who led your research session, Lisa Thornell, Head of Library Outreach & Communications, to set up an in-person or virtual research appointment at lthornell@fairfield.edu

Before You Begin Finding Resources

Find your selected work of art on the Metropolitan Museum of Art website or the Fairfield University Art Museum's website. It is important to have this in front of you so that you can use your formal analysis skills and the details provided in the museum's catalog record to formulate some research topics or questions.
Come up with a list of questions based on what you see and the information provided on the object label/museum site.
- What do I want to know about my object? Write down questions. Think: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How.
- What technologies and/or techniques were used to make the image you see in front of me?
- How is the object a reflection of the society in which it was made?
Identify your keywords and consider similar terms. Ex: Amphora, Vase, Pottery
Decide what category each one of your questions falls into and then use the appropriate tabs on the guide.

Examples:

If I want to find out information about a Greek or Egyptian mythological figure, I would probably start with the subject matter and symbolism tab, and possibly also check the historical context tab afterwards.

If I want to learn about sculpting techniques or how a piece of jewelry was made, I would look under the style and function tab first.

Commons Misconceptions about this Assignment

I will find sources that refer directly to my work of art and / or artist. Not necessarily / probably not!
I will know what my paper thesis is when I begin researching. It's important to ask many questions about the artwork and seek answers to those questions through your research before refining your thesis.
I will be able to find all of my sources online. While this guide does include many valuable online sources, in the past, many students have found their best information in print books.

Object List

No more than two students may sign up to work on one object. Object choices are in the Fairfield University Art Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fairfield University Art Museum:.

Byzantine Mosaic of Sheep and Goats

https://embark.fairfield.edu/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2281%22&sort=0&page=6

Byzantine Medallion with St. Nicholas

https://embark.fairfield.edu/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2281%22&sort=0&page=12

Egyptian footed vase with lug handles

https://embark.fairfield.edu/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2285%22&sort=0&page=5

Egyptian alabastron

https://embark.fairfield.edu/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2285%22&sort=0&page=6

Greek Attic Red-figure Hydria fragment

https://embark.fairfield.edu/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%2285%22&sort=0&page=15

Greek White ground black-figure lekythos fragment with Amazon