You can retrieve a specific work of art record using the Query by System Number under the Search menu. System numbers are the Index’s unique identifier for a specific work of art and can be found linked within search results and at the top of each work of art record. Entering an exact database system number on this search line will bring you directly to that database record.
In addition to browsing, a main search strategy for using the Index of Medieval Art database is to enter keywords in the Quick Search line at the upper right of the screen. These keywords can comprise multiple or compound terms that will be searched in proximity to one another, e.g. “Evangelist writing.” They do not have to be adjacent to each other.
A keyword search will return all the records in which your term appears, offering a general sense of the material in the database that may relate to your research. However, basic searches often yield an overabundance of results, so we recommend scrolling to the top of the page to filter results using the controlled fields:
Use the Date Range Filter to apply chronological parameters to your search with a start and end year. For example, enter the dates numerically “1300” AND “1399” to find works of art made in the 14th century.
The Search Fields box will default to search all fields. However, if you are looking for work of art records with more specific features, you can uncheck these and combine a selection of Search Fields with Search Expressions and Filters. For example, one could enter the keyword “Noah” as a Search Expression, then select the Search Field “Description,” and filter by the Style/Culture “Romanesque” and the Medium “illumination.” This search will return examples of Noah that appear in iconographic descriptions within Romanesque manuscript illumination.
To yield rich results, you will find it useful to try several combinations of terms against database Search Fields, to widen and narrow your searches, and to gain a familiarity of Index database vocabulary, or “house style,” through generous browsing. See further the help section for Advanced Search for definitions of these Search Fields.
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