Other resources
This page brings together complementary resources from other institutions, projects, and publications dedicated to the historiography of art history.
The art-info.be website aims to provide as comprehensive an overview as possible of the history of art in Belgium (1830-2030): general chronology, artists, artist groups, works, institutions and private initiatives, events and exhibitions, movements and trends, key figures and bibliography. Searching via ‘personalities’ allows to discover biographies of art critics and art historians. The site also offers several ‘institutions’ entries that complement those found on the Belarthis site.
Biographie nationale and Nouvelle Biographie nationale
The Nouvelle Biographie nationale is a collection of previously unpublished biographical entries on deceased individuals who achieved a certain degree of fame in Belgium in various fields of the study of human activity and who belong to all periods of history, mainly the contemporary period. The individuals are Belgian or were born in territories that, at the time of their birth, constituted the Southern Netherlands and the Principality of Liège; a number of foreigners who played a significant role in the country’s history are also included.
The site provides access to the digitised version of the Biographie nationale and the first twelve volumes of the Nouvelle Biographie nationale. An integrated search tool allows users to find a published entry. The sub-tab ‘Personnalités’ contains all the personalities whose entries have been written in the Biographie nationale or in the first twelve volumes of the Nouvelle Biographie nationale.
Duke Dictionary of Art Historians
The Duke Dictionary of Art Historians (DAH) is a free, privately funded online resource that aims to document and compile biographical and professional information on art historians (around fifty for Belgium), critics and researchers who have contributed to the development of the discipline around the world. This project is akin to a living archive that offers valuable context and in-depth information on the figures who have shaped the discourse on art history. The project description is available in several languages and the site offers a bibliography and a glossary on various issues related to the database (general historiography, periods, media, countries, genres, etc.).
This critical online dictionary presents a representative selection of art historians active in France from the Revolution to the First World War. It is currently being re-edited and will be available on OpenEdition Books in the ‘Traverses’ collection. This volume will be supplemented by around a hundred new entries. These are indicated as forthcoming.
Founded in 1971, ISELP (Institut supérieur pour l’étude du langage plastique) is a place where contemporary art is approached from different angles that enrich each other. One of these angles is that of reflection on the professions of art history (L’histoire de l’art comme profession). It also offers a series of podcasts « Têtes chercheuses » featuring interviews with experienced researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Retrace is a private agency dedicated to promoting historical, archaeological and artistic heritage, offering its services to individuals, families, owners of historic homes, businesses, non-profit organisations and foundations, collection owners, as well as cultural sites. Retrace compiles documented accounts of biographies, family histories, memoirs of non-profit organisations, businesses and foundations, histories of places or collection catalogues, and records them in permanent publications.
It is included by Belarthis as a “resource” because of the frequent publication of interviews with heritage specialists in the Retrace newsletter (under the heading “The voice of the experts”).
