Art

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Collection overview

The Collection focus is on European art and includes:

• Aesthetics
• Architecture
• Graphic Art
• History of photography
• Paintings
• Sculpture

Collection strengths include:

• Ceramics
• History of book illustration
• Illuminated manuscript studies (in the Palaeography collection)

See our latest acquisitions

A subject guide to the Art collection can be downloaded here.

Collection location

• Most books are located on the 5th floor, although those relating to the art of the United States and Latin America are kept separately in their area collections
• All items available on open access will display the location ART eg ART South Block 5th floor South Reading Room V8B Con
• Large books are shelved immediately following the octavo books and are indicated by the prefix ‘f’ or ‘folio’, before the location code
• All periodicals with the exception of current issues and some books are held in the closed-access stacks. These will display the location Stack Service. Please request stack materials via the online catalogue
• Recent issues of periodicals are on display bays in the Periodicals Library 4th floor. For more information on finding journals, see our journals resources page
• Reference works including dictionaries, encyclopedias and guides eg the Dictionary of Art (34 volumes) are shelved with the Reference Collection in the Periodicals Room 4th floor.
• To locate individual titles use the online catalogue

Related collections

• Dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference works are located in the Reference Collection, Periodicals Room 4th floor.
• Area collections of Latin American Studies and United States Studies
• Book Studies collection – book illustration
• Palaeography collection – medieval illuminated manuscripts

Classmarks for Art

Aesthetics (philosophy, psychology and criticism) V8

Architecture: VA-VD

Calligraphy: VS

Ceramics: VH-VI

Drawing: VOD

Engraving: VP

Graphic and decorative art: VO

History of Art: V3

Mosaics: VN

Painting: VK-VM

Photography: VR

Reproduction processes, prints: VQ

Sculpture and the plastic arts: VE-VG

Textiles: VU

For a more detailed explanation of classmarks see the Library's leaflet 'A guide to the classification scheme' which can be downloaded here.

Other libraries

For more information about ART collections in other libraries, please see the Guide to Art History libraries in London website: www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/artlibgu.html. Of particular interest are the National Art  Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Courtauld Institute of Art Library and University College London Library. For elsewhere in the UK, consult the Consortium of University and Research Libraries catalogue: www.copac.ac.uk.