BAROQUE ART

ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND REFERENCE BOOKS

The Dictionary of Art

Despite its title, this multivolume reference work is really an encyclopedia. Monumental in scope, it is the largest and most comprehensive reference work on the visual arts that has ever been published. Don't start any research on art without checking this source. It is also available online in Oxford Art Online.

Encyclopedia of World Art

Although older than the encyclopedia above, this is still a useful and scholarly work. It is richly illustrated with thousands of color and black-and-white plates, which are all found together at the back of each volume.

 

Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1990s 

Do you want to compare depictions of Pegasus across time and artist? Before this book, studying the treatment of classical themes through the years would have been very difficult. But, with this guide, it is a breeze. This is a unique and very valuable research tool.

 

Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture

This is a handy one-volume encyclopedia on all aspects of Christian art and architecture of all time periods. Its short articles can help you greatly in understanding the religious traditions and subject matter that were prominent in Baroque art. It is also available online.