Since there may be little written information on the particular painting you're researching, take as much information as you can from the label next to the work of art in the museum (artist, date, medium, etc.). Take time to thoroughly observe and describe the work in your own words. Next, explore the Ackland Art Museum website, where you'll find information about many objects from current and past exhibitions as well as those from the permanent collection.

The Class Tour portion of the Ackland pages has more than 25 images with documentation. The Five Faiths Project and temporary exhibitions also include objects from the permanent collection. Click on any of the thumbnail images for more information about the work of art.

In addition, you can consult the Ackland notebook (ask at the Art Library desk) and several Ackland collection catalogs located in the Art Library Ready Reference section; these include some but not all of the objects in the Ackland collection.

In other research resources you can find information on the artist, the school or movement, style, theme, issue, or context such as historical setting or religious, gender, or ethnic identity. You might look at the work in relation to other arts, such as music, dance, literature and drama.