Where do I find information on looted art or Holocaust-era assets?
The Public Collections Database contains some 20th-century material, but more information can be found through the Research Library at
the Getty Research Institute. Please read about Holocaust-era Research Resources for more information.
What does the word provenance mean?
The history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or
literature.
What is an archival document?
Legal documents such as inventories, dowries, or valuations that
contain references to owned works of art (called items) are
grouped together as "archival documents." The documents
are found in city, state, or national archives, and can be used to
establish the history of ownership.
What is a sale catalog?
A sale catalog is a published catalog listing items (called lots)
for sale at an auction. The catalogs are often published by auction
houses themselves, and are considered primary source material for
establishing the history of ownership.
Do you have photographs of the works of art in your databases?
No.
Why can't I find any data on 20th-century
artists like Picasso, Monet, or Matisse in the Archival Documents
or Sale Catalogs databases?
There is no 20th-century information in Archival Documents or Sale
Catalogs, and very little from the second half of the 19th century. The
Archival Documents database contains information from roughly 1550 to 1850 and the
Sale Catalogs database covers roughly 1650 to 1840. For more information on current
coverage, see the appropriate Overview page in either database.
For more information on future coverage, see the Forthcoming section
under About the Databases. For 20th-century provenance information
for paintings in public collections, see the Public Collections database.
What are the best computer and browser settings
with which to use the Getty Provenance Index Databases?
The Getty Provenance Index Databases are best viewed with display settings
at 1024 x 768 pixels, although 800 x 600 is supported. The databases
are best viewed with Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher, and Netscape
4.8 and higher.
When I type in keywords and press "Search," nothing
happens. What am I doing wrong?
When nothing seems to change after you press "Search," it means no
records in the database matched your search term(s). It is possible
that you have done nothing wrong. Broadening your search criteria will
improve your chances of finding results.
I am receiving an error message. What am I doing
wrong?
Please email the exact error
message, telling us what you did before you received it, to
pscp@getty.edu.
We will attempt to rectify the problem and respond to your email.
Is there a way to search across all your
databases at the same time?
This may be possible in a future release.
How do I search by subject of the
work of art in your databases?
You can only search by subject in Archival Documents and in Public
Collections. We use Iconclass as our subject authority. Subjects
are searchable in English only.
How do I search by date?
In any date field, to search on a specific day use the
following format:
yyyy/mm/dd (e.g., 1689/10/31)
To search by year and month:
yyyy/mm* (e.g., 1689/10*)
To search by year:
yyyy* (e.g., 1689*)
To search by year range:
yyyy*:yyyy* (e.g., 1689*:1710*)
How do I search by name?
In any name field, type in a first name and/or last name
in any order (e.g., Peter Paul Rubens or Peter Rubens or Rubens Peter).
Do not use a comma to separate first and last name.
Can I see a full transcription of
an archival document?
Yes. In Archival Documents,
start by searching for all contents in a particular document. For
example, type "I-372" in the PI Record # field and
press "Search." From the search results screen, press
"View All." At the top of the screen, you will notice a
button called "Select Format" Click this button, then
choose "Original Transcription" in the drop-down menu.
You may change the display back to the format by record at any time using the same
procedure and choosing "Record" in the drop-down menu.
Can I do a boolean search (i.e., AND, OR,
NOT)?
Yes partly. For Keywords search, all search terms are automatically supplied with "and"
between them. For the other fields, your search will give you all the occurence of the terms you are searching for.
Is there a way I can download my search
results?
No. You can, however, copy and paste the information from your
browser window. Please keep in mind that all of our data is copyrighted
(see Terms of Use below). If you plan on referencing the Provenance
Index Databases in a publication, please use the following format:
Getty Provenance Index® Databases. J. Paul Getty Trust
Why are there contents available for some
archival documents or sale catalogs and not others?
When there is no link to contents, in most cases they have yet
to be entered into the databases.
I believe the information in a particular
record is incorrect. What should I do?
Please let us know if you locate incorrect information and we
will do our best to rectify the problem. In your correspondence, please
mention the record number (which appears at the top of the record).
Please include your source for the information to be corrected. Send
email to pscp@getty.edu.
I've heard about your Collectors Files. What are they and how
can I see them?
The Collectors Files constitute an archive of about 20,000 paper files containing
information on collectors of art from the 16th to the 20th century.
The files include art dealers' records, book manuscripts, journal
articles, archival documents, handwritten travel diaries, notes of
art historians, and other materials. The Collectors Files
are searchable online.
The files are available to researchers at the Research Library at
the Getty Research Institute.
To make an appointment to
visit the Project for the Study of Collecting and Provenance, please contact Library
Reference.
How do I cite the Getty Provenance Index Databases
in a publication?
Getty Provenance Index® Databases. J.
Paul Getty Trust
Can I obtain a copy of a particular sale catalog
or archival document?
It is against department policy to provide copies of entire sale
catalogs or archival documents. If the department has a copy of the
document in-house, however, we may, at our discretion, be able
to provide a photocopy of a particular page.
How do I become a collaborator?
If you have an interest in becoming a volunteer collaborator to
the Getty Provenance Index Databases, please send an email with your qualifications
to pscp@getty.edu.
Collaborators generally have backgrounds in paleography, art history,
or romance languages.
What does "record has not been edited"
mean?
The record has not been fully reviewed by the editorial staff
and may contain errors or be improperly indexed.
Can you help me to judge the authenticity of my art?
No. We recommend that you contact a qualified art appraiser or an auction house.
Can you help me to appraise my art?
No. We recommend that you
contact a licensed appraisal firm.
Would you be interested in purchasing
a work of art I own?
Please write a letter to the
curator of the appropriate department at the J.
Paul Getty Museum. If you include a photograph and any information
on the piece you may wish to sell, the Museum will attempt to direct
you to the appropriate dealers, museums, or auction houses for advice.
How do I visit the Project for the Study of Collecting and Provenance at the Getty?
To make an appointment to visit the Project for the Study of Collecting and Provenance, please contact
Library
Reference.
The Getty Provenance Index® is a registered trademark of the J. Paul Getty Trust
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For information about how to conduct provenance research, consult The AAM Guide to Provenance Research by Nancy H. Yeide, Konstantin Akinsha, Amy L. Walsh (Washington, D.C.: American Association of Museums, 2001). |
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