Art, Architecture, Craft and Design

For many useful art, architecture, craft and design web sites see WebLinks
For a vast amount of art information and thousands of large colour images of works of art, log in to information and reference online resources with your library number and PIN and take a look at the following:

Oxford Art Online is a huge resource on visual art worldwide, with biographies of artists, subject articles, thousands of images and image links. It includes the well-known 'Grove Art Online' and other major titles.

Credo Reference and Oxford Reference Online include many art encyclopaedias and other reference books, where you can look up artists, art movements and other art topics.

Credo Reference also gives you thousands of art images, especially in several large collections: 'The Bridgeman library art archive', 'The Bridgeman history of science' and the 'National Gallery collection'. Find these in the Art category by clicking the Find a Book tab.

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography gives detailed biographical information about artists who are no longer living, from all periods of British history worldwide.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online has articles on major art topics and artists, with images and web links.

At Newspapers Online you can search national and local newspapers for news and reviews of art exhibitions.

Art Gallery - take a tour and enjoy scores of beautiful images taken from old and fascinating books and magazines held at Bedfordshire libraries!

A company of fiends

You can consult many standard reference books on art, architecture, craft and design in the large collection at Bedford Central Library. Dunstable Library has several standard works and other libraries have at least an encyclopaedia or dictionary of art and artists
Search for books on artists and subjects in the library catalogue

Further information

Library catalogue
Contact us - for help to find information, from your local librarians
'Enquire' - a 24-hour chat enquiry service from the national People's Network. Local librarians take part in 'Enquire' on a rota basis but it is likely that you would be answered by a librarian from another library service

Library contact details and opening times

Tent

Special topics

Architecture

Antiques

Crafts, including embroidery

Finding out about a painting

Gordon Fraser Collection

Taking up drawing? Find inspiration online

Dictionary of British artists 1880-1940

Dictionary of British watercolour artists up to 1920

Page last updated: 2nd November 2011