Museum

Thomas J. Watson Library

The Libraries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Watson Library

    REGISTER HERE
    to use the Library

    For Visitors:
    Tuesday 9:30–5:15
    Wednesday 9:30–5:15
    Thursday 9:30–5:15
    Friday 9:30–6:00
    Saturday 10:00-2:00

    For Museum Staff:
    Monday-Friday 9:00–6:00
    Saturday 10:00-2:00

    Paging ends
    at 3:30pm on weekdays
    at 1:30pm on Saturdays
    See paging times.

    See Access and Hours for more detailed information and Holiday Closings.
    (212) 650-2225

  • Nolen Library

    Monday (staff only) 9:00–5:00
    Tuesday–Friday 9:00–5:00
    (visitors: 9:30-5:00)
    Saturday–Sunday 10:00–5:00

    See the Nolen Library page for more detailed information.
    (212) 570-3788

Filed under: Research

How can I find biographical information about an artist?

  • Some websites we recommend: Ask Art and Artcyclopedia.
  • Consult WATSONLINE, the online catalog of the Museum’s libraries, to identify citations for materials on the artist you are looking for. You can then look for these titles at a local library.
  • Search the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History on the Museum’s website.
  • Consult appropriate titles from this selection of basic art biographical resources (there are many others): 
    • ALLGEMEINES LEXIKON DER BILDENDEN KUNSTLER  (Thieme-Becker)
    • ALLGEMEINES LEXIKON DER BILDENDEN KUNSTLER DES XX. JAHRHUNDERTS  (Vollmer)
    • ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES MASTER INDEX
    • DICTIONARY OF ARTISTS (Benezit, 2006; earlier editions in French)
    • DICTIONARY OF ART (Oxford)
    • DICTIONARY OF WOMEN ARTISTS (Petteys)
    • INDEX TO ARTISTIC BIOGRAPHY
    • OXFORD ART ONLINE (subscription)
    • OXFORD DICTIONARY OF ART AND ARTISTS
    • WHO WAS WHO IN AMERICAN ART
    • WHO’S WHO IN AMERICAN ART

For research assistance on American art and artists visit Ask Joan of Art on the Smithsonian American Art Museum website.