Art and Architecture Thesaurus

Art and Architecture Thesaurus is a controlled vocabulary used to describe and catalog art and architecture terms, including styles, periods, and techniques. It was developed by the Getty Research Institute in collaboration with Yale University, Harvard University, and the National Gallery of Art. The AAT is widely used by museums, galleries, and libraries around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Louvre, and British Museum. It is also used by architects, artists, and designers, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe.

Introduction

The Art and Architecture Thesaurus is a comprehensive vocabulary that provides a standardized way of describing and categorizing art and architecture terms. It is used by institutions such as the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Museum of Modern Art, and Tate Modern to catalog and describe their collections. The AAT is also used by scholars and researchers at universities such as University of California, Los Angeles, Columbia University, and University of Oxford to study and analyze art and architecture. Additionally, it is used by organizations such as the International Council of Museums and the American Institute of Architects to promote cultural heritage and architectural conservation.

History and Development

The development of the Art and Architecture Thesaurus began in the 1970s, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project was led by Toni Petersen, who worked with a team of experts from institutions such as the Getty Conservation Institute, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institution. The AAT was first published in 1990, and it has since undergone several revisions and updates, with contributions from experts such as Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, Vincent Scully, and Robert Venturi. The AAT has also been influenced by other vocabularies and classifications systems, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings and the Dewey Decimal Classification.

Structure and Content

The Art and Architecture Thesaurus is a hierarchical vocabulary that consists of seven facets, including objects, styles, periods, techniques, materials, people, and places. Each facet contains a range of terms and concepts, from general to specific, such as painting, sculpture, architecture, and landscape architecture. The AAT also includes terms and concepts related to art movements, such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, as well as architectural styles, such as Gothic, Renaissance, and Art Deco. The AAT is used to describe and catalog works by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Pablo Picasso, as well as buildings and structures designed by architects such as Frank Gehry, I.M. Pei, and Zaha Hadid.

Applications and Uses

The Art and Architecture Thesaurus has a wide range of applications and uses, including collection management, cataloging, and research. It is used by museums and galleries to catalog and describe their collections, and by libraries to classify and retrieve information about art and architecture. The AAT is also used by architects and designers to research and analyze buildings and structures, and by scholars and researchers to study and analyze art and architecture. Additionally, the AAT is used by organizations such as the World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites to promote cultural heritage and architectural conservation. The AAT has also been used in projects such as the Google Arts & Culture platform, which provides access to high-resolution images of artworks from museums and galleries around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Louvre, and National Gallery of Art.

Maintenance and Updates

The Art and Architecture Thesaurus is maintained and updated by the Getty Research Institute, in collaboration with experts and institutions from around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and National Gallery of Canada. The AAT is updated regularly to reflect changes in the field of art and architecture, and to incorporate new terms and concepts. The AAT is also available online, and can be accessed through the Getty Research Institute website, as well as through other online platforms and databases, such as the Getty Vocabulary Program and the Union List of Artist Names. The AAT has been recognized as a standard for art and architecture vocabulary by organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization and the American National Standards Institute. Category:Art and architecture