Wikidata:WikiProject Visual arts/Item structure

Home

Item structure

Questions

Maintenance

Tools

Works of visual art

Individual objects and parts

An object can be part of another object. Groups of artworks should be identified as such by a instance of (P31)-claim with one of the subclasses of group of works (Q17489659) as object. The members of the group should be identified as such by a part of (P361)- or part of the series (P179)-claim – currently both possibilities are used. For prints published in a another published work published in (P1433) should be used.

To refer to a part of an object a qualifier with applies to part, aspect, or form (P518) is used. An item describing a part of an object is used as the value. If there is no item for the part and they are unambiguous, the items upper part (Q17525438), lower part (Q17525439), left part (Q17525441), right part (Q17525442) and central part (Q17525443); recto (Q9305022) and verso (Q9368452); obverse (Q257418) and reverse (Q1542661) are used as values of applies to part, aspect, or form (P518). The number of parts can be stated with number of parts of this work (P2635) as in The Four Apostles (Q829270).

If there are items describing the parts of an object there is no common practice how to indicate the relative position of the parts to each other unfortunately.

No discussion has taken place on how to describe the relation of two-dimensional objects to their frames. There is image with frame (P7420) to link to images on Commons with frames. (Those images get often cropped as the images in c:Category:Painting frames show though.)

There are some cases of items (and Wikipedia articles) for a part of an image of a visual artwork. It might need more consideration on how to model them. Examples are The Creation of Adam (Q500242) and Raphael's Cherubs (Q21993480).

Describing individual objects

Title	ID	Data type	Description	Examples	Inverse
instance of	P31	Item	instance of: class or type of the object. Possible values: one of the classes listed at § Types of visual artworks (or a subclass of those), e.g. painting (Q3305213), a subclass of group of works (Q17489659) etc.	Mona Lisa <instance of> painting	-
creator	P170	Item	creator, author, visual artist and software developer: maker of this creative work or other object (where no more specific property exists)	The Potato Eaters <creator> Vincent van Gogh	notable work
creator's signature	P7457	Commons media file	signature: image of the artist's mark on the work that identifies their work	Adam <creator's signature> Duerermonogramm Adam 1507.jpg	-
title	P1476	Monolingual text	original title and title: published name of a work, such as a newspaper article, a literary work, piece of music, a website, or a performance work	Mona Lisa <title> La Gioconda	-
inception	P571	Point in time	date of establishment, founding and date of the first award: time when an entity begins to exist; for date of official opening use P1619	Mona Lisa <inception> 1500s	-
depicts	P180	Item	depicting object: entity visually depicted in an image, literarily described in a work, or otherwise incorporated into an audiovisual or other medium; see also P921, 'main subject'	The Balcony	depicted by
shown with features	P1354	Item	secondary features depicted in a work. Use as qualifier for "depicts" (P180)	Mona Lisa <shown with features> waist-length hair	-
depicts Iconclass notation	P1257	String	Iconclass: Iconclass code depicted in an artwork, for linking Iconclass codes with their corresponding artistic themes or concepts, use P1256 (Iconclass notation)	The Milkmaid <depicts Iconclass notation> 47I22311	-
made from material	P186	Item	material: material the subject or the object is made of or derived from (do not confuse with P10672 which is used for processes)	Mona Lisa <made from material> oil paint	-
fabrication method	P2079	Item	manufacturing process, production, process and building method: method, process or technique used to grow, cook, weave, build, assemble, manufacture the item	silk <fabrication method> sericulture	-
height	P2048	Quantity	height, human height and body length: vertical length of an entity	Mona Lisa <height> 77 centimetre	-
width	P2049	Quantity	width and road width: width of an object	Mona Lisa <width> 53 centimetre	-
thickness	P2610	Quantity	thickness: extent from one surface to the opposite	1 Krona - Gustaf V <thickness> 1 millimetre	-
commissioned by	P88	Item	commissioner: person or organization that commissioned this work	Arc de Triomphe <commissioned by> Napoleon	-
location of creation	P1071	Item	place where the item was conceived or made; where applicable, location of final assembly	Mona Lisa <location of creation> Florence	-
owned by	P127	Item	proprietor, property and owned by: owner of the subject	Choupette <owned by> Karl Lagerfeld	owner of
coordinates of the point of view	P1259	Geographic coordinates	point from which the scene depicted by the element is seen (element can be a photo, a painting, etc.)	A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte <coordinates of the point of view> 48° 53′ 12.00″ N 2° 16′ 05.00″ E	-
collection	P195	Item	collection and library collection: art, museum, archival, or bibliographic collection the subject is part of	Rosetta Stone <collection> British Museum	-
inventory number	P217	String	accession number: identifier for a physical object or a set of physical objects in a collection	The Night Watch <inventory number> SK-C-5	-
catalog code	P528	String	catalog code: catalog name of an object, use with qualifier P972	The Night Watch <catalog code> 2016	-
significant event	P793	Item	key event: significant or notable events associated with the subject	Mona Lisa <significant event> acquisition	-
location	P276	Item	physical location: location of the object, structure or event. In the case of an administrative entity as containing item use P131. For statistical entities use P8138. In the case of a geographic entity use P706. Use P7153 for locations associated with the object	Mona Lisa <location> Louvre Museum	contains
coordinate location	P625	Geographic coordinates	geographic coordinates: geocoordinates of the subject. For Earth, please note that only WGS84 coordinating system is supported at the moment	Mount Everest <coordinate location> 27° 59′ 17.00″ N 86° 55′ 31.00″ E	-
inscription	P1684	Monolingual text	inscription and epigraph: inscriptions, markings and signatures on an object	Shugborough inscription <inscription> O U O S V A V V	-
exhibition history	P608	Item	exhibition: exhibitions where the item is or was displayed	The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne <exhibition history> Saint Anne, Leonardo da Vinci’s ultimate masterpiece	-
image	P18	Commons media file	illustration and image: image of relevant illustration of the subject; if available, also use more specific properties (sample: coat of arms image, locator map, flag image, signature image, logo image, collage image)	Mona Lisa <image> Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, from C2RMF retouched.jpg	-
image with frame	P7420	Commons media file	picture frame: media file of painting or other 2D artwork with its frame or more of its surroundings included	Mona Lisa <image with frame> Leonardo da vinci, la gioconda, 1503-06 circa.jpg	-
image of backside	P7417	Commons media file	image of the reverse side of this "2D" object	The Oxbow <image of backside> View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow MET DP-12550-002.jpg	-
genre	P136	Item	genre, by genre and award for best album (genre): creative work's genre or an artist's field of work (P101). Use main subject (P921) to relate creative works to their topic	Mona Lisa <genre> portrait	-
movement	P135	Item	cultural movement: literary, artistic, scientific or philosophical movement or scene associated with this person or work. For political ideologies use P1142.	Max Horkheimer <movement> Frankfurt School	-
main subject	P921	Item	topic, matter and subject: primary topic of a work (see also P180: depicts)	Mona Lisa <main subject> Lisa del Giocondo	statement is subject of
based on	P144	Item	based on: the work(s) or inputs used as the basis for subject item; for fictional analog use P1074	A <based on> Α	derivative work
inspired by	P941	Item	artistic inspiration and inspired: work, human, place or event which inspired this creative work or fictional entity	The Matrix <inspired by> Alice's Adventures in Wonderland	-

Dimensions

There are many properties to describe the dimensions of an object:

• For two-dimensional objects, like paintings or prints, height (P2048) and width (P2049) should be used to refer to the dimensions of the surface, e.g. to the canvas that holds the oil paint for an oil on canvas painting. There does not seem to be an established solution of how to refer to the dimensions of two-dimensional objects including their frames. On Old woman in snow (Q25334125) applies to part, aspect, or form (P518)picture frame (Q860792) is used as a qualifier.
• For three-dimensional objects, like sculptures, height (P2048), width (P2049) and and horizontal depth (P5524) should be used to refer to three dimensions.
• For round objects, properties diameter (P2386), radius (P2120) and perimeter (P2547) could be added
• For sword (Q12791) and similar objects, properties length (P2043), width (P2049) and thickness (P2610) might be more appropriate
• For physical container (Q987767) and bowl (Q153988) like objects, property vertical depth (P4511) could be added

All of above properties can be accessed on Commons by files using c:Template:Artwork with |wikidata= parameter linking it to the related item or setting the appropriate properties in Structured Data on Commons. See c:Category:Artworks with Wikidata item missing dimensions for images, with size information, linked to Wikidata items, without.

Titles and labels

Titles are a complicated field. If a work has a title title (P1476) should be used. Help regarding the language selection can be found here.

Generally the label of an item should hold the title of the object it describes if the object has one. For general instructions for labels see Help:Label. The title should be formed with help of the guidelines at en:Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Visual arts#Works of art, at least for English labels, also considering the Cultural Objects Name Authority (Q11409212) Editorial Guidelines, section 3.3 Titles and Names.

In some cases the names of notations in Iconclass (Q1502787) that can be found at http://www.iconclass.org/help/outline might be used in an adapted form as title.

Many works don't have titles. This is the case especially for non-figurative, non-artistic and old objects. A case are archaeological finds. Here often short descriptive expression is used followed by a short form of the holding institution and its inventory number is used as a label. An example is ax head LACMA AC1999.243.1 (Q56600320).

Depicted subjects and iconography

The main properties for this are depicts (P180) and main subject (P921). For depicts (P180) one can use shown with features (P1354) qualifier. Also with the qualifier relative position within image (P2677) the relative position on two-dimensional objects can be given using percents of height and width of the object. Note that for models rather than sitters model (P2634) should be used.

depicts Iconclass notation (P1257) can be used to link to Iconclass (Q1502787).

Inscriptions can be given with inscription (P1684).

Images

To assign an image on Commons to an object item image (P18) is used. Use the best image available on Commons! For two-dimensional works the image should depict the whole surface without the frame. The image file with the whole surface can then be used as a reference for relative position within image (P2677). Make sure to assign only one image per item since image (P18) has a single value constraint (as of 00:12, 28 April 2016 (UTC)).

In case of items related to group of objects, like artwork series (Q15709879) or polyptych (Q1278452), try to find a single image showing multiple objects, otherwise use image with an exemplar object. In case of two-sided objects like coins, processional standard (Q2378522), etc., try to find a single image showing both sides or add two images with applies to part, aspect, or form (P518)recto (Q9305022) and applies to part, aspect, or form (P518)verso (Q9368452) qualifiers.

Use of creator (P170) in uncertain cases

If the work of art is attributed to someone we still use creator (P170) with the creator, but we qualify it with nature of statement (P5102) set to attribution (Q230768).

If no distinguished instance of person (Q215627), organization (Q43229) or group of humans (Q16334295) is known as a value of creator (P170) then anonymous (Q4233718) should be used. creator (P170) should be set to unknown value with qualifier object of statement has role (P3831) set to anonymous (Q4233718). The following qualifiers may be used to link the object to a distinguished instance related to its creator:

• workshop of (P1774): The object was probably created by students or employees of the artist in the same workshop, possibly with help of the named artist.
• circle of (P1776): The object is by an unknown artist who lived in the same time as the named artist in a similar style, possibly a follower or someone who had contact with the named artist.
• follower of (P1775): The object is by unknown artists who work in the manner of the named artist.
• school of (P1780): The object is by an unknown creator with a style influenced by the known artist or circle, active in the same period, but a student or follower.
• possible creator (P1779): There is a bigger uncertainty about the creator of the object.
• manner of (P1777): The object is in similar style as the named artist, but not necessary from the same period.
• after a work by (P1877): The object was strongly inspired or copied by a work of the named artist.
• forgery after (P1778): The object is a forgery trying to appear to be the work of the named artist.

If no distinguished instance is known but some qualities of the value of creator (P170) these should be added as qualifiers. For example:

• ethnic group (P172)
• residence (P551)
• floruit (P1317)

Object history or provenance

• See Wikidata:WikiProject Provenance

Those properties are useful:

• significant event (P793) with those values:

• destruction (Q17781833)
• acquisition (Q22340494)
• deposit (Q5260774)
• bequest (Q211557)
• usucaption (Q313326)
• change of ownership (Q14903979)
• unexplained disappearance (Q7884274) (Are there cases of an explained disappearance (Q3030513) of an artwork?)

• owned by (P127) use if possible time qualifiers start time (P580), end time (P582), point in time (P585)
• donated by (P1028) with point in time (P585)
• (date of disappearance (P746): Currently this property has person (Q215627) as its only domain, but extension is discussed.)

For the entry of historical dates see Help:Dates, especially also § Inexact dates.

In c:Template:Artwork this information is hold in the object history field, mapping of c:Template:ProvenanceEvent has yet to be done!

The location of an artwork can be described with location (P276). For objects in depots or generally not on display instances of museum storage (Q1191732) can be used like locations of the Bavarian State Painting Collections with works not on display (Q29343881) or Louvre storage (depot) (Q19059868). Cf. also the discussion Wikidata talk:WikiProject sum of all paintings/Archive/2016#Location.

Collection history

The main property to describe the collection a work is part of is collection (P195). For works in unspecified private collections use collection (P195)unknown valueobject of statement has role (P3831)private collection (Q768717). For specified private collection an item for the collection should be found or created.

Relations between objects

Mona Lisa (Q58087321), print by Luigi Calamatta based on (P144) the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in his Gallery (Q19939106) depicts (P180) many other artworks

For the relations of groups of works or series see above § Individual objects and parts.

There are some properties to describe relations between works and objects, most of them have corresponding inverse properties or are themselves symmetric properties:

• based on (P144) ↔ derivative work (P4969)
• depicts (P180) ↔ depicted by (P1299)
• pendant of (P1639): symmetric property
• said to be the same as (P460): symmetric property
• different from (P1889): symmetric property
• study or design for (P6606): no inverse property

based on (P144)/derivative work (P4969) are used for all kinds of derivation, including preparatory works, studies and the like.

depicts (P180)/depicted by (P1299) can be used where a work depicts another object, for example for Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in his Gallery (Q19939106).

said to be the same as (P460) and different from (P1889) can be used to express a former belief that two objects were identical or different. This case emerges in particular where at least one of the subject was or is only known from other sources like texts. The properties should then be used with the applying qualifiers and sources. statement disputed by (P1310) and statement supported by (P3680) can be useful here.

(See also the CONA guidelines regarding “Related Works”.)

Qualifiers

Qualifiers are additional bits of data that make a statement more informative or more accurate. Like the main part of the statement they are composed of a qualifier/value couple. Here are some properties that can be useful as qualifiers:

Title	ID	Data type	Description	Examples	Inverse
applies to part, aspect, or form	P518	Item	part of the object for which the statement is true. Examples: * creator (P170) John Doe applies to part, aspect, or form (P518): background (Q13217555) * made from material (P186): canvas (Q12321255) applies to part, aspect, or form (P518): painting support (Q861259)	The Night Watch <made from material> canvas <applies to part, aspect, or form> painting support	-
determination method or standard	P459	Item	determination method: the method used by the source to make the statement. Examples: * creator (P170) John Doe determination method or standard (P459): stylistic analysis (Q11873636) * point in time (P585) 6000 BC determination method or standard (P459): radiocarbon dating (Q173412)	Venus of Langenzersdorf <inception> 5. millennium BCE <determination method or standard> radiocarbon dating	-
image	P18	Commons media file	illustration and image: when the image is particularly relevant for a particular statement. Examples: * Los mamapitos (Q1212937) -> depicts (P180): human skull (Q9604) image (P18): Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_The_Ambassadors_-_Google_Art_Project-x1-y2.jpg. * Los mamapitos (Q1212937) -> inscription (P1684): ÆTATIS SUAE 25 image (P18): Holbein age Selve.JPG	Los mamapitos <inscription> ÆTATIS SUAE 25 <image> Holbein age Selve.JPG	-
color	P462	Item	color: as a qualifier for made from material (P186)	Large Red Sphere <made from material> granite <color> red	-

Types of visual artworks

We maintain distinct items for

1. types of physical artworks
2. art disciplines
3. the related profession
4. a related group of artworks, including as a series

Why?

1. Because these concepts are conceptually different. An artistic discipline is not a work of art; a work of art is not a profession.
2. This conceptual difference is, among others, reflected in external art history related terminology sources like the Art and Architecture Thesaurus, which also maintains separate terms (paintings (visual works) vs painting (image-making))
3. Therefore, using them in a wrong way would result in incorrect statements (e.g. Mona Lisa (Q12418) is NOT instance of (P31) the (abstract) art discipline art of painting (Q11629) - the correct statement is that Mona Lisa (Q12418) instance of (P31) painting (Q3305213))

Inter-relationships:

• visual arts (Q36649)practiced by (P3095)visual artist (Q3391743)
• visual artist (Q3391743)field of this occupation (P425)visual arts (Q36649)
• visual arts (Q36649)product, material, or service produced or provided (P1056)visual artwork (Q4502142)
• artwork series (Q15709879)has part(s) of the class (P2670)work of art (Q838948)

	Subclasses of work of art	Discipline (activity (Q1914636)   )	The profession (profession (Q28640)   )	In a series or set (sequence (Q20937557)   )	More info about properties, structure, to do list
	work of art (Q838948)   art project (Q21076217)	visual arts (Q36649)	visual artist (Q3391743)	artwork series (Q15709879)   series of creative works (Q7725310)   work with multiple executions (Q28886448)   ensemble of works of art (Q28870066)
Painted works
	painting (Q3305213)	art of painting (Q11629)	painter (Q1028181)	painting series (Q15727816)   cycle of paintings (Q16905563)   group of paintings (Q18573970)	See Wikiproject Sum of All Paintings.
	oil sketch (Q1964917)
	watercolor painting (Q18761202)	watercolor (Q50030)	watercolorist (Q17505902)
	gouache painting (Q21281546)	wash technique (Q8191842)	painter (Q1028181)
	manuscript illumination (Q8362)	art of illumination (Q22669085)	illuminator (Q998628)	illuminated manuscript (Q48498)
	fresco (Q22669139)	fresco painting (Q134194)	fresco painter (Q22669155)	fresco series (Q22078284)    cycle of frescoes (Q16905550)
	mural (Q219423)	Mexican muralism (Q938864)	muralist (Q3374326)
	graffiti (Q17514)	street art (Q17516)	graffiti artist (Q15095148)
Drawn works
	drawing (Q93184)	art of drawing (Q2921001)	drawer (Q15296811)	drawing series (Q19828370)
Printed works
	print (Q11060274)	printmaking (Q271588)	printmaker (Q11569986)	series of prints (Q19960510)
		intaglio printing (Q194177)    includes:
	engraving (Q11835431)	engraving process (Q139106)	engraver (Q329439)
	copper engraving print (Q18887969)	copper engraving technique (Q4287629)	copper engraver (Q13365770)
	mezzotint print (Q21647744)	mezzotint technique (Q731980)
	stipple engraving print (Q22669539)	stipple engraving (Q7617514)
	steel engraving print (Q22669546)	steel engraving (Q482097)
	etching print (Q18218093)	etching technique (Q186986)	etcher (Q10862983)
	soft-ground etching (Q22669562)	soft-ground etching technique (Q1049829)
	aquatint print (Q18396864)	aquatint (Q473236)
	drypoint print (Q23657281)	drypoint technique (Q542340)
		monoprinting (Q6901903)
		planographic printing (Q3735299)    includes:
	lithograph (Q15123870)	lithography (Q133036)	lithographer (Q16947657)
	zincograph (Q21648161)	zincography (Q204867)
	monotype print (Q22669635)	monotyping (Q156218)
	offset print (Q22004031)	offset printing (Q190408)
		relief printing (Q3921059)    includes:
	linocut print (Q22060043)	linocut technique (Q752633)
	woodcut print (Q18219090)	woodcut process (Q173242)    xylography (Q16295560)	xylographer (Q1437754)
	chiaroscuro woodcut (Q21648003)	camaieu technique (Q1027977)
	wood engraving print (Q22669664)	wood engraving technique (Q1259197)
	screen print (Q22569957)	screen printing (Q187791)	serigrapher (Q21925567)
		photographic printmaking techniques include:
		photogravure technique (Q1602553)
		rotogravure (Q635658)
	heliogravure print (Q23641696)	heliogravure
		photolithography (Q622938)
		collotype technique (Q1572315)
		digital printing techniques include:
	laser print (Q21550731)
		other printing techniques:
	blueprint (Q422321)
Photography
	photograph (Q125191)	photography (Q11633)	photographer (Q33231)	photograph series (Q20744439)	In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Photographs
	photo collage	photocollage (Q3381561)
	photomontage
	fotogravure
	platinum print (Q2098669)
Other two-dimensional works of visual art
	pastel (Q12043905)	pastel painting (Q54880418)	pastellist (Q20857490)
	calligraphic work (Q22669850)	calligraphy (Q12681)	calligrapher (Q3303330)
	collage (Q22669857)	collaging (Q170593)	collagist (Q22343478)
	mosaic (Q133067)	mosaic making (Q47008958)	mosaicist (Q282718)
	pietra dura (Q61818913)	pietra dura (Q1044853)	pietra dura artist (Q56578471)
	stained glass (Q1473346)	glass staining (Q115200950)	stained-glass artist (Q2205972)
	tapestry (Q184296)	tapestry weave (Q29167534)	upholstery (Q1123578)	tapestry series (Q18609875)
	carpet (Q163446)	rug making (Q4415551)	rug maker (Q56118087)
	poster (Q429785)		poster artist (Q739437)
	sgraffito (Q115570126)	sgraffito (Q471835)	sgraffitist (Q54810663)
	embroidery (Q28966302)	embroidery (Q18281)	embroiderer (Q1509440)
Sculpted works
	sculpture (Q860861)	art of sculpture (Q11634)	sculptor (Q1281618)	sculpture series (Q19479037)   group of casts (Q28890616)   group of sculptures (Q27031439)	In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Sculptures
	relief sculpture (Q23662753)	relief sculpture (Q245117)
	bas relief	bas-relief (Q14562306)
	haut relief	high relief (Q5784272)
	medallion (Q131647)		medalist (Q1708232)
	commemorative plaque (Q721747)
Installations
	installation artwork (Q20437094)	installation art (Q212431)	installation artist (Q18074503)	series of installations (Q20895720)	In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Installations
	audiovisual installation
	interactive installation (Q113995901)	interactive art (Q2394336)
	multimedia installation
	video installation (Q550484)	video art (Q682010)	video artist (Q18216771)
	sound installation (Q2633362)	sound art (Q1744327)	sound artist (Q19850998)
	light installation (Q1823448)	light art (Q1421557)	light artist (Q108818918)
	kinetic sculpture (Q29857932)	kinetic art (Q466521)	kinetic artist (Q21000481)
Other three-dimensional works of visual art
	found object (Q572916)
	assemblage (Q262343)		assemblage artist (Q69319917)
	light sculpture (Q29885984)
		textile design (Q763631)	textile designer (Q18611810)
	textile artwork (Q22075301)	textile art (Q10988986)	textile artist (Q10694573)
		ceramic art (Q13464614)	ceramicist (Q7541856)
	glass art (Q5567091)	studio glass (Q1089246)	glass artist (Q2865798)
	jewelry (Q161439)	jewelry design (Q6189617)	jeweler (Q336221)
	environmental artwork (Q21042249)	land art (Q326478)
	mask (Q161524)
	artist book
Time-based and digital works of visual art
	time-based visual work (Q106213450)	time-based media (Q57206278)
	performance artwork (Q22672348)	performance art (Q213156)	performance artist (Q10774753)	performance series (Q20968950)
	happening (Q108874)
	video artwork (Q20742776)	video art (Q682010)	video artist (Q18216771)
	video sculpture (Q7927987)
	video installation (Q550484)		video installation artist (Q106227216)
	film
	sound installation (Q2633362)	sound art (Q1744327)
	animation
	digital artwork
	computer animation
	printing plate
	mold (mal)
	picture frame
	pedestal
Artworks that consist of different parts
	ensemble of works of art (Q28870066)	n/a	n/a
	group of sculptures (Q2334148)	n/a	n/a
	polyptych (Q1278452)	n/a	n/a
	diptych (Q475476)	n/a	n/a
	triptych (Q79218)	n/a	n/a
	quadriptych (Q21915367)	n/a	n/a
	pentaptych (Q21915380)	n/a	n/a
	hexaptych (Q21915411)	n/a	n/a
	heptaptych (Q21915564)	n/a	n/a
	octaptych (Q21915574)	n/a	n/a
Other
	mixed media (Q1902763)
	street art
	illuminated manuscript (Q48498)
	portfolio
	scale model
	piece of furniture
	monument (Q4989906)
	study
	sketch
	sketchbook

People and organisations in the visual arts

Creators

Individual artists

Artist collectives - groups of artists working together

Typical occupations in the visual arts

Useful visual-arts-related bibliographical encyclopedias and their items of which some need a little care: Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon (Q15649499) (German; online with paywall; based on Thieme-Becker-Vollmer (Q1361256); daughters: Nürnberger Künstlerlexikon (Q21531823), Künstlerlexikon der Antike (Q1797179)); Neues allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon (Q15275409) (German; old); Benezit Dictionary of Artists (Q2929945) (French/English; online)

Those not visual-arts-related: Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 (Q25666) (German; online), Große Bayerische Biographische Enzyklopädie (Q41626459) (German; online)

Common properties (including authority control)

Since visual arts are a field of human culture persons appear in different roles. Among other properties, instances of Wikidata property for authority control for artists (Q55653847)   , the following are for persons important especially in visual arts:

Title	ID	Data type	Description	Examples	Inverse
Union List of Artist Names ID	P245	External identifier	identifier from the Getty Union List of Artist Names	Vincent van Gogh <Union List of Artist Names ID> 500115588	-
RKDartists ID	P650	External identifier	identifier in the RKDartists database (Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie)	Rembrandt <RKDartists ID> 66219	-
SIKART ID	P781	External identifier	identifier in SIKART, a biographical dictionary and a database on visual art in Switzerland and Liechtenstein	Le Corbusier <SIKART ID> 4000293	-
Kunstindeks Danmark Artist ID	P1138	External identifier	unique artist identifier used by Kunstindeks Danmark	Asger Jorn <Kunstindeks Danmark Artist ID> 974	-
Art UK artist ID	P1367	External identifier	authority control identifier for artists (creators of publicly owned oil paintings in the UK)	Bernardino da Asola <Art UK artist ID> bernardino-da-asola-active-c-15251550	-
Sandrart.net person ID	P1422	External identifier	personal Identification number in Research Platform for Art and Cultural History of the 17th Century (Sandrart.net)	Alfonso V of Aragon <Sandrart.net person ID> 1206	-
British Museum person or institution ID	P1711	External identifier	identifier for a person or institution in the British Museum person-institution thesaurus	Rembrandt <British Museum person or institution ID> 43386	-
National Portrait Gallery (London) person ID	P1816	External identifier	identifier for sitters and artists represented in the National Portrait Gallery, London	Richard I. Aaron <National Portrait Gallery (London) person ID> mp78223	-
Web Gallery of Art ID	P1882	External identifier	identifier for an artist in the Web Gallery of Art	Agostino Busti <Web Gallery of Art ID> b/bambaia	-
Cooper-Hewitt person ID	P2011	External identifier	identifier for a person or organization in the Cooper-Hewitt (Smithsonian Institution) catalogue	Sarah Cooper Hewitt <Cooper-Hewitt person ID> 18049321	-
National Gallery of Victoria artist ID	P2041	External identifier	identifier assigned to an artist by the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia	Ansel Adams <National Gallery of Victoria artist ID> 2372	-
Artsy artist ID	P2042	External identifier	identifier at the Artsy website	Vincent van Gogh <Artsy artist ID> vincent-van-gogh	-
National Gallery of Art artist ID	P2252	External identifier	identifier assigned to an artist by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC	Gerrit Dou <National Gallery of Art artist ID> 1239	-
Musée d'Orsay artist ID	P2268	External identifier	numeric ID for an artist in the Répertoire des artistes documentation database of the Orsay Museum	Claude Monet <Musée d'Orsay artist ID> 18495	-
AGORHA person/institution ID	P2342	External identifier	identifier for a person or institution in the Agorha database (INHA)	Claude Monet <AGORHA person/institution ID> 5b875ae5-3173-46e4-8ca6-ad96016e7a1b	-
Stuttgart Database of Scientific Illustrators ID	P2349	External identifier	identifier for a person, in the University of Stuttgart's Database of Scientific Illustrators, 1450–1950	John Arrowsmith <Stuttgart Database of Scientific Illustrators ID> 1538	-
J. Paul Getty Museum agent DOR ID (old)	P2432	External identifier	identifier assigned to an agent by the J. Paul Getty Museum in their legacy internal Digital Object Repository. Replaced by P12040	Théodore Géricault <J. Paul Getty Museum agent DOR ID (old)> 493	-
Benezit ID	P2843	External identifier	identifier in Benezit Dictionary of Artists	Martinus Lengele <Benezit ID> B00107631	-
ECARTICO person ID	P2915	External identifier	identifier for a person, in the ECARTICO biographical database of the Dutch and Flemish Golden Ages	Erick van den Weerelt <ECARTICO person ID> 8194	-
Auckland Art Gallery artist ID	P3372	External identifier	identifier assigned to an artist by the Auckland Art Gallery in New Zealand	Don Binney <Auckland Art Gallery artist ID> 2601	-
Artnet artist ID	P3782	External identifier	identifier of an artist in the Artnet database of auction results	Edward Davis <Artnet artist ID> edward-thompson-davis	-
Boijmans artist ID	P3888	External identifier	identifier for an artist in the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen	Richard Serra <Boijmans artist ID> 16313	-
Pinakothek artist ID	P4025	External identifier	identifier in the Pinakothek collection	Arnold Böcklin <Pinakothek artist ID> MQlx21n4Xq	-
Athenaeum person ID	P4145	External identifier	artist id in the Athenaeum artworks website	Lucas Cranach the Elder <Athenaeum person ID> 3498	-
Finnish National Gallery artist ID	P4177	External identifier	identifier for people in the Finnish National Gallery	Helene Schjerfbeck <Finnish National Gallery artist ID> 76EF2D1D-802A-4D77-9732-17DCB9B55B5E	-
Commons Creator page	P1472	String	Commons Creator page: name of Commons Infobox template residing in "Creator" namespace on Wikimedia Commons	Stanley R. H. Rogers <Commons Creator page> Stanley R. H. Rogers	-
National Gallery of Canada artist ID	P5368	External identifier	identifier of an artist at the National Gallery of Canada's web site	Emily Carr <National Gallery of Canada artist ID> emily-carr	-
MNBAQ artist ID	P8336	External identifier	unique identifier for an artist in the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec	Napoléon Bourassa <MNBAQ artist ID> 600000125	-

Useful qualifiers

• subject named as (P1810) -- to give the form of the artist's name that is preferred by the site
• number of works (P3740) -- for sites which also have examples of the artist's work (probably only sensible for sites that are complete or only slowly-growing)

Organisations that support the visual arts

Museums

Other collecting institutions

Galleries

The context of the visual arts

Notable art exhibitions

• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Art exhibitions

Art movement / Cultural movement / Architectural style / Art group ...

Wikidata contains many similar concepts that relate to movements, styles and other tendencies in the arts.

This may sound confusing. It's best to use common sense when distinguishing those. It is OK to use two (or more) concepts at the same time!

Please note: the Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) from the Getty, probably the most widely used art vocabulary in the world, has only one 'branch' to bring all these concepts together. It calls them broadly Styles and Periods and then styles, periods and cultures.

Art movement

• An art movement (Q968159) mainly has effect in the (visual) arts, maybe also design and architecture.
• It is usually a broad movement in terms of place and time. Probably its artists didn't all know each other.
• An art movement is not a kind of 'club' or 'group with formal members - for that, we have art group (see below).
• Examples of typical art movements: Antwerp school (Q2107376) (which spans two centuries!), fauvism (Q166593), abstract expressionism (Q177725)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Art movements.

Cultural movement

• A cultural movement (Q2198855) is slightly broader, and also manifests itself in other art disciplines (literature, music...).
• Examples: Baroque (Q37853), Symbolism (Q164800)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Cultural movements

Architectural style

• architectural style (Q32880) is mainly used to indicate the style of buildings in architecture.
• Examples: postmodern architecture (Q595448), deconstructivism (Q238255)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Architectural styles

Art group

• An art group (Q4502119) is a club or group of artists who share a common ideal.
• Usually, an art group has members and a founder. This is not the case for an art movement.
• Wikidata does not have a separate indicator (yet?) for a so-called 'school' of artists who are contemporaries and who work in the same style, so art group is used in that case too.
• Examples: The Blue Rider (Q117035), COBRA (Q212611)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Art groups
• Many languages don't know a difference between art group and art collective

Artist collective

• An artist collective (Q1400264) is similar to an art group, but it especially indicates a group of artists who actually create artworks together.
• Examples: Art & Language (Q558276), Steina and Woody Vasulka (Q3482323)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Artist collectives
• Many languages don't know a difference between art group and art collective
• art duo: artistic duo (Q85942930) for two artists working together

Art colony

• An art colony (Q1558054) is a place where artists live and interact with each other
• Examples: Worpswede artist colony (Q479361)

Art genre

• An art genre (Q1792379) classifies an artwork (or an artist) by its form or content. An art movement is more about the cultural influence and tradition of the artwork and can be visible in many art genres at once.
• Examples: portrait (Q134307), installation art (Q212431), funerary art (Q2083647)
• Item structure and to do list: WikiProject Visual Arts/Item structure/Art genres

Culture / period

• A culture (P2596) (such as Roman or Inca) is an artwork's affiliation with a particular ethno-cultural tradition, although the individual artist may be unknown.
• A time period (P2348) (such as the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt or the High Middle Ages) is an artwork's affiliation with a cultural-historical era, when it can best be dated by stylistic trends rather than a specific date.
• earliest date (P1319) and latest date (P1326) can be useful as qualifiers for specifying the range of possible dates assigned by art historians to a work. sourcing circumstances (P1480) can also be use for "circa" or similar terms.
• An intended public (P2360) is the target audience for a type of art that crosses cultures, such as Chinese export porcelain intended for the Western market.

See also...

• Wikidata:WikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Art movements
  • Wikidata_talk:WikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Art movements#Matching_Periods_and_Styles

• literary movement (Q3326717)
• cultural movement (Q2198855)
• musical movement (Q12020884)
• painting movement (Q3326867)
• art style (Q1792644)
• form of art (Q5489026)

Linking to other websites

Links to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects can be done through direct sitelinks and Commons category (P373). For links to other websites, you can use a lot of ID properties, instances of Wikidata property to identify artworks (Q44847669)   , some are here:

Title	ID	Data type	Description	Examples	Inverse
Joconde work ID	P347	External identifier	identifier in the Joconde database of the French Ministry of Culture	The Fif <Joconde work ID> 000PE003910	-
RKDimages ID	P350	External identifier	identifier per RKDimages of the Netherlands Institute for Art History	The Tiger Hunt <RKDimages ID> 198000	-
Atlas ID	P1212	External identifier	identifier in the Atlas database of the Louvre Museum	Q15933804 <Atlas ID> 6261	-
Commons category	P373	String	Commons category: name of the Wikimedia Commons category containing files related to this item (without the prefix "Category:")	Mona Lisa <Commons category> Mona Lisa	-
described at URL	P973	URL	Internet research: item is described at the following URL	Mona Lisa <described at URL> https://www.louvre.fr/decouvrir/le-palais/de-la-joconde-aux-noces-de-cana	-

described at URL (P973) should be used where an ID property doesn't exist.

Note that these properties may also be used to source the statements see § Providing sources.

Providing sources

Some statements do not really need a source (for instance that the Mona Lisa is a portrait or that its Joconde database ID is 000PE025604). However, in many cases, it is useful to provide references. See Help:Sources for more information.