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How do I search ARTstor?

Learn how to search the ARTstor database

Need Help?

Ask a Librarian @
Betty Sue Jessup Library

501 College Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.961.5309
reference@pvcc.edu

Search ARTstor

Step 1:

Access ARTstor.  Note: If you're off-campus, you will be prompted to login with your myPVCC username and password.
 

Step 2:

Register for an account by clicking the link in the top right corner. You must have an account in order to download pictures from the database.

register link
 

Step 3:

ARTstor contains high-res images of paintings, sculptures, architecture, costumes, maps, photographs, and more. It's best to use the advanced search to narrow your results. Click the Advanced Search link below the search box.

advanced search
 

Step 4:

Enter your search terms in boxes on the left side. You can combine your terms with "AND" if you only want results by a particular artist. For example, you could do "stars AND van gogh" or "thinker AND rodin." Or you can just enter your terms in the first box, and then limit by classification. For example, you may only want paintings or sculptures or architecture.  

advanced search terms and limit by classification

 

Step 5:

Click the image to view it in full-screen. You can then either click any part of the image to zoom in, or use the zoom icons that appear when you hover over the image. Click the "fit to view" button to fit the image back to the window.

fit to view button

 

Step 6:

Click the Download button to download a high-res copy of the artwork.

download button

Tips!

tip

If your professor asked you to look at a particular folder of images for a class, click the "Groups" link at the bottom of the ARTstor homepage. Then navigate to the folder for your class.  

Note: You must be registered and logged into ARTstor to access the image groups.

groups link

Interested in using an image for a professional academic publication? Look for the "IAP" symbol beneath the image, which means it may be used in academic publications free of charge. For more information, see their help article "Images for Academic Publishing."


Note: This does not apply to students using an image in a paper or PowerPoint. For that, you simply must cite where you found the image. See Copyright for Students for more information.

IAP symbol under image