ASH, N., HOMOLKA, S., LUSSIER, S., POLLAK, R., SPAULDING, E., & WOLCOTT, R. (2014). Descriptive terminology for works of art on paper: guidelines for the accurate and consistent description of the materials and techniques of drawings, prints, and collages.
Guidelines for the accurate and consistent description of the materials and techniques of drawings, prints, and collages.
Philadelphia Museum of Art summary: "The guidelines presented in this e-publication address the need for more accurate and consistent documentation of the materials and techniques used to create works of art on paper, and are designed to provide museum professionals charged with describing prints and drawings with a step by step approach to describing all aspects of their manufacture. No detailed guide for this has previously existed.
Works of art on paper - Western tradition. "Descriptive Terminology provides a step-by-step approach to identifying and recording information about the materials and manufacture of works of art on paper, and to recording, updating, and adapting media descriptions stored in collections databases. Its users—conservators, curators, registrars, catalogers, and others charged with accurately describing artworks— will bring different levels of knowledge and connoisseurship to the task. The guidelines contained in this publication are intended to help any of them write more meaningful and accurate descriptions through the use of consistent terminology and syntax, regardless of the level of detail ascertained about an artwork. While Descriptive Terminology focuses on art on paper in the Western tradition, many of its guidelines will likely have more universal application."
Conservators, curators and other users bring different types of knowledge and connoisseurship to the task, and the publication also aims to guide those with less experience or without direct access to the physical artworks in recording information that is accurate regardless of level of detail. Another goal is to facilitate recording materials information in museum collections databases – a primary source for collections information on the web.
We hope that the impact of Descriptive Terminology for Works of Art on Paper will be to:
Provide a comprehensive resource for professionals in the fine arts
Enhance the ability of conservators to communicate their knowledge about the material aspects of works of art on paper
Contribute to the education and visual experience of the online and museum visitor
182 pages. Part I: Recording, Accessing, and Adapting Media Descriptions, Part II: Rules of Syntax, Part III: Identification and Characterization of Materials and Techniques. Appendix 1 - guidelines (for cataloguing) summary. Appendix 2 - images.