Wikidata:WikiProject Visual arts/Item structure

From Wikidata
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Home

 

Item structure

 

Questions

 

Maintenance

 

Tools

 

People and organisations in the visual arts[edit]

Creators[edit]

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 (Q15791802) (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)[edit]

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)  View with Reasonator View with SQID, the following are for persons important especially in visual arts:

Title ID Data type Description Examples Inverse
Union List of Artist Names IDP245External identifieridentifier from the Getty Union List of Artist NamesVincent van Gogh <Union List of Artist Names ID> 500115588-
RKDartists IDP650External identifieridentifier in the RKDartists database (Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie)Rembrandt <RKDartists ID> 66219-
SIKART IDP781External identifieridentifier in SIKART, a biographical dictionary and a database on visual art in Switzerland and LiechtensteinLe Corbusier <SIKART ID> 4000293-
Kunstindeks Danmark Artist IDP1138External identifierunique artist identifier used by Kunstindeks DanmarkAsger Jorn <Kunstindeks Danmark Artist ID> 974-
Art UK artist IDP1367External identifierauthority 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 IDP1422External identifierpersonal 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 IDP1711External identifieridentifier for a person or institution in the British Museum person-institution thesaurusRembrandt <British Museum person or institution ID> 43386-
National Portrait Gallery (London) person IDP1816External identifieridentifier for sitters and artists represented in the National Portrait Gallery, LondonRichard I. Aaron <National Portrait Gallery (London) person ID> mp78223-
Web Gallery of Art IDP1882External identifieridentifier for an artist in the Web Gallery of ArtAgostino Busti <Web Gallery of Art ID> b/bambaia-
Cooper-Hewitt person IDP2011External identifieridentifier for a person or organization in the Cooper-Hewitt (Smithsonian Institution) catalogueSarah Cooper Hewitt <Cooper-Hewitt person ID> 18049321-
National Gallery of Victoria artist IDP2041External identifieridentifier assigned to an artist by the National Gallery of Victoria in AustraliaAnsel Adams <National Gallery of Victoria artist ID> 2372-
Artsy artist IDP2042External identifieridentifier at the Artsy websiteVincent van Gogh <Artsy artist ID> vincent-van-gogh-
National Gallery of Art artist IDP2252External identifieridentifier assigned to an artist by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DCGerrit Dou <National Gallery of Art artist ID> 1239-
Musée d'Orsay artist IDP2268External identifiernumeric ID for an artist in the Répertoire des artistes documentation database of the Orsay MuseumClaude Monet <Musée d'Orsay artist ID> 18495-
AGORHA person/institution IDP2342External identifieridentifier 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 IDP2349External identifieridentifier for a person, in the University of Stuttgart's Database of Scientific Illustrators, 1450–1950John Arrowsmith <Stuttgart Database of Scientific Illustrators ID> 1538-
J. Paul Getty Museum agent DOR ID (old)P2432External identifieridentifier assigned to an agent by the J. Paul Getty Museum in their legacy internal Digital Object Repository. Replaced by P12040Théodore Géricault <J. Paul Getty Museum agent DOR ID (old)> 493-
Benezit IDP2843External identifieridentifier in Benezit Dictionary of ArtistsMartinus Lengele <Benezit ID> B00107631-
ECARTICO person IDP2915External identifieridentifier for a person, in the ECARTICO biographical database of the Dutch and Flemish Golden AgesErick van den Weerelt <ECARTICO person ID> 8194-
Auckland Art Gallery artist IDP3372External identifieridentifier assigned to an artist by the Auckland Art Gallery in New ZealandDon Binney <Auckland Art Gallery artist ID> 2601-
Artnet artist IDP3782External identifieridentifier of an artist in the Artnet database of auction resultsEdward Davis <Artnet artist ID> edward-thompson-davis-
Boijmans artist IDP3888External identifieridentifier for an artist in the Museum Boijmans Van BeuningenRichard Serra <Boijmans artist ID> 16313-
Pinakothek artist IDP4025External identifieridentifier in the Pinakothek collectionArnold Böcklin <Pinakothek artist ID> MQlx21n4Xq-
Athenaeum person IDP4145External identifierartist id in the Athenaeum artworks websiteLucas Cranach the Elder <Athenaeum person ID> 3498-
Finnish National Gallery artist IDP4177External identifieridentifier for people in the Finnish National GalleryHelene Schjerfbeck <Finnish National Gallery artist ID> 76EF2D1D-802A-4D77-9732-17DCB9B55B5E-
Commons Creator pageP1472StringCommons Creator page: name of Commons Infobox template residing in "Creator" namespace on Wikimedia CommonsStanley R. H. Rogers <Commons Creator page> Stanley R. H. Rogers-
National Gallery of Canada artist IDP5368External identifieridentifier of an artist at the National Gallery of Canada's web siteEmily Carr <National Gallery of Canada artist ID> emily-carr-
MNBAQ artist IDP8336External identifierunique identifier for an artist in the Musée national des beaux-arts du QuébecNapoléon Bourassa <MNBAQ artist ID> 600000125-

Useful qualifiers[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Museums

Other collecting institutions

Galleries

Works of visual art[edit]

Types of visual artworks[edit]

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:

Subclasses of work of art Discipline
(activity (Q1914636)  View with Reasonator View with SQID)
The profession
(profession (Q28640)  View with Reasonator View with SQID)
In a series or set
(series (Q20937557)  View with Reasonator View with SQID)
More info about properties, structure, to do list
work of art (Q838948)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDart project (Q21076217)  View with Reasonator View with SQID visual arts (Q36649)  View with Reasonator View with SQID visual artist (Q3391743)  View with Reasonator View with SQID artwork series (Q15709879)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDseries of creative works (Q7725310)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDwork with multiple executions (Q28886448)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDensemble of works of art (Q28870066)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Painted works[edit]

painting (Q3305213)  View with Reasonator View with SQID art of painting (Q11629)  View with Reasonator View with SQID painter (Q1028181)  View with Reasonator View with SQID painting series (Q15727816)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDcycle of paintings (Q16905563)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDgroup of paintings (Q18573970)  View with Reasonator View with SQID ✓ See Wikiproject Sum of All Paintings.
oil sketch (Q1964917)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
watercolor painting (Q18761202)  View with Reasonator View with SQID watercolor (Q50030)  View with Reasonator View with SQID watercolorist (Q17505902)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
gouache painting (Q21281546)  View with Reasonator View with SQID wash technique (Q8191842)  View with Reasonator View with SQID painter (Q1028181)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
manuscript illumination (Q8362)  View with Reasonator View with SQID art of illumination (Q22669085)  View with Reasonator View with SQID illuminator (Q998628)  View with Reasonator View with SQID illuminated manuscript (Q48498)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
fresco (Q22669139)  View with Reasonator View with SQID fresco painting (Q134194)  View with Reasonator View with SQID fresco painter (Q22669155)  View with Reasonator View with SQID fresco series (Q22078284)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

cycle of frescoes (Q16905550)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

mural (Q219423)  View with Reasonator View with SQID Mexican muralism (Q938864)  View with Reasonator View with SQID muralist (Q3374326)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
graffiti (Q17514)  View with Reasonator View with SQID street art (Q17516)  View with Reasonator View with SQID graffiti artist (Q15095148)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Drawn works[edit]

drawing (Q93184)  View with Reasonator View with SQID art of drawing (Q2921001)  View with Reasonator View with SQID drawer (Q15296811)  View with Reasonator View with SQID drawing series (Q19828370)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Printed works[edit]

print (Q11060274)  View with Reasonator View with SQID printmaking (Q271588)  View with Reasonator View with SQID printmaker (Q11569986)  View with Reasonator View with SQID series of prints (Q19960510)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
intaglio printing (Q194177)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

includes:

engraving (Q11835431)  View with Reasonator View with SQID engraving process (Q139106)  View with Reasonator View with SQID engraver (Q329439)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
copper engraving print (Q18887969)  View with Reasonator View with SQID copper engraving technique (Q4287629)  View with Reasonator View with SQID copper engraver (Q13365770)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
mezzotint print (Q21647744)  View with Reasonator View with SQID mezzotint technique (Q731980)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
stipple engraving print (Q22669539)  View with Reasonator View with SQID stipple engraving (Q7617514)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
steel engraving print (Q22669546)  View with Reasonator View with SQID steel engraving (Q482097)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
etching print (Q18218093)  View with Reasonator View with SQID etching technique (Q186986)  View with Reasonator View with SQID etcher (Q10862983)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
soft-ground etching (Q22669562)  View with Reasonator View with SQID soft-ground etching technique (Q1049829)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
aquatint print (Q18396864)  View with Reasonator View with SQID aquatint (Q473236)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
drypoint print (Q23657281)  View with Reasonator View with SQID drypoint technique (Q542340)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
monoprinting (Q6901903)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
planographic printing (Q3735299)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

includes:

lithograph (Q15123870)  View with Reasonator View with SQID lithography (Q133036)  View with Reasonator View with SQID lithographer (Q16947657)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
zincograph (Q21648161)  View with Reasonator View with SQID zincography (Q204867)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
monotype print (Q22669635)  View with Reasonator View with SQID monotyping (Q156218)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
offset print (Q22004031)  View with Reasonator View with SQID offset printing (Q190408)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
relief printing (Q3921059)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

includes:

linocut print (Q22060043)  View with Reasonator View with SQID linocut technique (Q752633)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
woodcut print (Q18219090)  View with Reasonator View with SQID woodcut process (Q173242)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

xylography (Q16295560)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

xylographer (Q1437754)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
chiaroscuro woodcut (Q21648003)  View with Reasonator View with SQID camaieu technique (Q1027977)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
wood engraving print (Q22669664)  View with Reasonator View with SQID wood engraving technique (Q1259197)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
screen print (Q22569957)  View with Reasonator View with SQID screen printing (Q187791)  View with Reasonator View with SQID serigrapher (Q21925567)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
photographic printmaking techniques

include:

photogravure technique (Q1602553)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
rotogravure (Q635658)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
heliogravure print (Q23641696)  View with Reasonator View with SQID heliogravure
photolithography (Q622938)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
collotype technique (Q1572315)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
digital printing techniques

include:

laser print (Q21550731)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
other printing techniques:
blueprint (Q422321)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Photography[edit]

photograph (Q125191)  View with Reasonator View with SQID photography (Q11633)  View with Reasonator View with SQID photographer (Q33231)  View with Reasonator View with SQID photograph series (Q20744439)  View with Reasonator View with SQID  In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Photographs
photo collage photocollage (Q3381561)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
photomontage
fotogravure
platinum print (Q2098669)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Other two-dimensional works of visual art[edit]

pastel (Q12043905)  View with Reasonator View with SQID pastel painting (Q54880418)  View with Reasonator View with SQID pastellist (Q20857490)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
calligraphic work (Q22669850)  View with Reasonator View with SQID calligraphy (Q12681)  View with Reasonator View with SQID calligrapher (Q3303330)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
collage (Q22669857)  View with Reasonator View with SQID collaging (Q170593)  View with Reasonator View with SQID collagist (Q22343478)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
mosaic (Q133067)  View with Reasonator View with SQID mosaic making (Q47008958)  View with Reasonator View with SQID mosaicist (Q282718)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
pietra dura (Q61818913)  View with Reasonator View with SQID pietra dura (Q1044853)  View with Reasonator View with SQID pietra dura artist (Q56578471)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
stained glass (Q1473346)  View with Reasonator View with SQID glass staining (Q115200950)  View with Reasonator View with SQID stained-glass artist (Q2205972)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
tapestry (Q184296)  View with Reasonator View with SQID tapestry weaving (Q29167534)  View with Reasonator View with SQID upholstery (Q1123578)  View with Reasonator View with SQID tapestry series (Q18609875)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
carpet (Q163446)  View with Reasonator View with SQID rug making (Q4415551)  View with Reasonator View with SQID rug maker (Q56118087)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
poster (Q429785)  View with Reasonator View with SQID poster artist (Q739437)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
sgraffito (Q115570126)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sgraffito (Q471835)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sgraffitist (Q54810663)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
embroidery (Q28966302)  View with Reasonator View with SQID embroidery (Q18281)  View with Reasonator View with SQID embroiderer (Q1509440)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Sculpted works[edit]

sculpture (Q860861)  View with Reasonator View with SQID art of sculpture (Q11634)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sculptor (Q1281618)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sculpture series (Q19479037)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDgroup of casts (Q28890616)  View with Reasonator View with SQIDgroup of sculptures (Q27031439)  View with Reasonator View with SQID  In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Sculptures
relief sculpture (Q23662753)  View with Reasonator View with SQID relief sculpture (Q245117)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
bas relief bas-relief (Q14562306)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
haut relief high relief (Q5784272)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
medallion (Q131647)  View with Reasonator View with SQID medalist (Q1708232)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
commemorative plaque (Q721747)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Installations[edit]

installation artwork (Q20437094)  View with Reasonator View with SQID installation art (Q212431)  View with Reasonator View with SQID installation artist (Q18074503)  View with Reasonator View with SQID series of installations (Q20895720)  View with Reasonator View with SQID  In progressWikiProject Visual arts/Item structure/Installations
audiovisual installation
interactive installation (Q113995901)  View with Reasonator View with SQID interactive art (Q2394336)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
multimedia installation
video installation (Q550484)  View with Reasonator View with SQID video art (Q682010)  View with Reasonator View with SQID video artist (Q18216771)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
sound installation (Q2633362)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sound art (Q1744327)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sound artist (Q19850998)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
light installation (Q1823448)  View with Reasonator View with SQID light art (Q1421557)  View with Reasonator View with SQID light artist (Q108818918)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
kinetic sculpture (Q29857932)  View with Reasonator View with SQID kinetic art (Q466521)  View with Reasonator View with SQID kinetic artist (Q21000481)  View with Reasonator View with SQID

Other three-dimensional works of visual art[edit]

found object (Q572916)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
assemblage (Q262343)  View with Reasonator View with SQID assemblage artist (Q69319917)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
light sculpture (Q29885984)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
textile design (Q763631)  View with Reasonator View with SQID textile designer (Q18611810)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
textile artwork (Q22075301)  View with Reasonator View with SQID textile art (Q10988986)  View with Reasonator View with SQID textile artist (Q10694573)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
ceramic art (Q13464614)  View with Reasonator View with SQID ceramicist (Q7541856)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
glass art (Q5567091)  View with Reasonator View with SQID studio glass (Q1089246)  View with Reasonator View with SQID glass artist (Q2865798)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
jewelry (Q161439)  View with Reasonator View with SQID jewelry design (Q6189617)  View with Reasonator View with SQID jeweler (Q336221)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
environmental artwork (Q21042249)  View with Reasonator View with SQID land art (Q326478)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
mask (Q161524)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
artist book

Time-based and digital works of visual art[edit]

time-based visual work (Q106213450)  View with Reasonator View with SQID time-based media (Q57206278)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
performance artwork (Q22672348)  View with Reasonator View with SQID performance art (Q213156)  View with Reasonator View with SQID performance artist (Q10774753)  View with Reasonator View with SQID performance series (Q20968950)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
happening (Q108874)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
video artwork (Q20742776)  View with Reasonator View with SQID video art (Q682010)  View with Reasonator View with SQID video artist (Q18216771)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
video sculpture (Q7927987)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
video installation (Q550484)  View with Reasonator View with SQID video installation artist (Q106227216)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
film
sound installation (Q2633362)  View with Reasonator View with SQID sound art (Q1744327)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
animation
digital artwork
computer animation
printing plate
mold (mal)
picture frame
pedestal

Artworks that consist of different parts[edit]

ensemble of works of art (Q28870066)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
group of sculptures (Q2334148)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
polyptych (Q1278452)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
diptych (Q475476)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
triptych (Q79218)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
quadriptych (Q21915367)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
pentaptych (Q21915380)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
hexaptych (Q21915411)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
heptaptych (Q21915564)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a
octaptych (Q21915574)  View with Reasonator View with SQID n/a n/a

Other[edit]

mixed media (Q1902763)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
street art
illuminated manuscript (Q48498)  View with Reasonator View with SQID
portfolio
scale model
piece of furniture
monument
study
sketch
sketchbook

Individual objects and parts[edit]

An object can be part of another object.[1] 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.[2] 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 (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 middle (Q17525443); recto (Q9305022) and verso (Q9368452); obverse (Q257418) and reverse (Q1542661) are used as values of applies to part (P518).[3] 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 P7420) (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[edit]

Property Data type description required
instance of (P31) Item that class of which this subject is a particular example and member; different from P279 (subclass of); for example: K2 is an instance of mountain; volcano is a subclass of mountain (and an instance of volcanic landform) yes
creator (P170) Item maker of this creative work or other object (where no more specific property exists) yes
creator's signature (P7457) Commons media file image of the artist's mark on the work that identifies their work no
title (P1476) Monolingual text published name of a work, such as a newspaper article, a literary work, piece of music, a website, or a performance work no
inception (P571) Point in time time when an entity begins to exist; for date of official opening use P1619 yes
depicts (P180) Item 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' no
shown with features (P1354) Item secondary features depicted in a work. Use as qualifier for "depicts" (P180) no
depicts Iconclass notation (P1257) String Iconclass code depicted in an artwork, for linking Iconclass codes with their corresponding artistic themes or concepts, use P1256 (Iconclass notation) no
made from material (P186) Item material the subject or the object is made of or derived from (do not confuse with P10672 which is used for processes) yes
fabrication method (P2079) Item method, process or technique used to grow, cook, weave, build, assemble, manufacture the item no
height (P2048) Quantity vertical length of an entity no
width (P2049) Quantity width of an object no
thickness (P2610) Quantity extent from one surface to the opposite no
commissioned by (P88) Item person or organization that commissioned this work no
location of creation (P1071) Item place where the item was conceived or made; where applicable, location of final assembly
owned by (P127) Item owner of the subject no
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.) no
collection (P195) Item art, museum, archival, or bibliographic collection the subject is part of no
inventory number (P217) String identifier for a physical object or a set of physical objects in a collection no
catalog code (P528) String catalog name of an object, use with qualifier P972 no
significant event (P793) Item significant or notable events associated with the subject no
location (P276) Item 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 no
coordinate location (P625) Geographic coordinates geocoordinates of the subject. For Earth, please note that only WGS84 coordinating system is supported at the moment no
inscription (P1684) Monolingual text inscriptions, markings and signatures on an object no
exhibition history (P608) Item exhibitions where the item is or was displayed no
image (P18) Commons media file 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) no
image with frame (P7420) Commons media file media file of painting or other 2D artwork with its frame or more of its surroundings included no
image of backside (P7417) Commons media file image of the reverse side of this "2D" object no
genre (P136) Item creative work's genre or an artist's field of work (P101). Use main subject (P921) to relate creative works to their topic no
movement (P135) Item literary, artistic, scientific or philosophical movement or scene associated with this person or work. For political ideologies use P1142. no
main subject (P921) Item primary topic of a work (see also P180: depicts) no
based on (P144) Item the work(s) used as the basis for subject item no
inspired by (P941) Item work, human, place or event which inspired this creative work or fictional entity no

A generic list of properties for artworks (and architecture) can be found at WD:List of properties/Works#Art & architecture.

Dimensions[edit]

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

All of above properties can be accessed on Commons by files using c:template:Artwork with wikidata field linking it to the related item. See c:Category:Artworks with Wikidata item missing dimensions for images, with size information, linked to wikidata items, without.

Titles and labels[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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))[4].

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 (P518)recto (Q9305022) and applies to part (P518)verso (Q9368452) qualifiers.

Use of creator (P170) in uncertain cases[edit]

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 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. For example:

Object history or provenance[edit]

Those properties are useful:

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[edit]

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 has role (P3831)private collection (Q768717). For specified private collection an item for the collection should be found or created.

Relations between objects[edit]

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) are used for all kinds of derivation, including preparatory works, studies and the like.[5]

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[edit]

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 partP518Itempart of the object for which the statement is true. Examples:
* creator (P170) John Doe applies to part (P518): background (Q13217555)
* made from material (P186): canvas (Q12321255) applies to part (P518): painting support (Q861259)
The Night Watch <made from material> canvas
<applies to part> painting support
-
determination methodP459Itemdetermination method: the method used by the source to make the statement. Examples:
* creator (P170) John Doe determination method (P459): stylistic analysis (Q11873636)
* point in time (P585) 6000 BC determination method (P459): radiocarbon dating (Q173412)
Venus of Langenzersdorf <inception> 5. millennium BCE
<determination method> radiocarbon dating
-
imageP18Commons media fileillustration and image: when the image is particularly relevant for a particular statement. Examples:
* The Ambassadors (Q1212937) -> depicts (P180): human skull (Q9604) image (P18): Hans_Holbein_the_Younger_-_The_Ambassadors_-_Google_Art_Project-x1-y2.jpg.
* The Ambassadors (Q1212937) -> inscription (P1684): ÆTATIS SUAE 25 image (P18): Holbein age Selve.JPG
The Ambassadors <inscription> ÆTATIS SUAE 25
<image> Holbein age Selve.JPG
-
colorP462Itemcolor: as a qualifier for made from material (P186)Large Red Sphere <made from material> granite
<color> red
-

The context of the visual arts[edit]

Notable art exhibitions[edit]

Art movement / Cultural movement / Architectural style / Art group ...[edit]

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[edit]

Cultural movement[edit]

Architectural style[edit]

Art group[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Art colony[edit]

Art genre[edit]

Artistic theme[edit]

Culture / period[edit]

  • 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...[edit]

Linking to other websites[edit]

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)  View with Reasonator View with SQID, some are here:

Title ID Data type Description Examples Inverse
Joconde work IDP347External identifieridentifier in the Joconde database of the French Ministry of CultureThe Fifer <Joconde work ID> 000PE003910-
RKDimages IDP350External identifieridentifier per RKDimages of the Netherlands Institute for Art HistoryThe Tiger Hunt <RKDimages ID> 198000-
Atlas IDP1212External identifieridentifier in the Atlas database of the Louvre MuseumQ15933804 <Atlas ID> 6261-
Commons categoryP373StringCommons 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 URLP973URLInternet research: item is described at the following URLMona Lisa <described at URL> http://musee.louvre.fr/oal/joconde/indexFR.html-

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[edit]

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.

References[edit]

  1. Cf. also Wikidata:WikiProject Visual arts/Questions#Items for single object parts!?
  2. Example for the use of part of (P361): Sunflowers (Q21948547); example for the use of part of the series (P179): Still Life: Vase with Five Sunflowers (Q11770758). As of 4 January 2015 there is an open discussion about the use of the two properties on Property talk:P179#"has part" inverse uses.
  3. Belly Amphora by the Andokides Painter (Q540716)#P170 uses everything (Q2165236), Attic bilingual vases and their painters (Q11455120) and Attic bilingual vases and their painters (Q11455120).
    Cultural Objects Name Authority (Q11409212) Editorial Guidelines, section 3.6.3.5.5.3 List of Subject Extent terms might be taken as a guide for values to be created if needed.
  4. Cf. Property talk:P18.
  5. There was Wikidata:Property proposal/Study for which didn't have a clear outcome.