Use subject encyclopedias as a starting point for an overview of a topic.
Oxford Reference Online a collection of encyclopedias, handbooks and other tertiary sources on a broad range of topics.
Note: There is a limit of three simultaneous users.
Geoffrey Newman, et al. "Colour." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Osborne, Harold. "Colour." The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Articles on composers, performers, conductors, instruments and notation, forms and genres, and individual works
Jörg Jewanski. "Colour and music." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
Note: There is a limit of 3 simultaneous users.
Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an
Rippin, Andrew. "Colors." Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an. Ed. Jane Dammen McAuliffe. Vol. 1. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers, 2001. 361-365. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Encyclopedia of Aesthetics
Riley, Charles A., and C. L. Hardin. "Color." Encyclopedia of Aesthetics. Oxford University Press, 1998. Oxford Reference.
The first essay demonstrates the central role of color in the history of the various arts, especially architecture, literature, music, and painting. The second essay provides a closer look at how scientists and philosophers have understood color, both in the past and today.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
Robins, Gay. "Color Symbolism." Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, 2001. Oxford Reference Online.
Pigments Through the Ages - an exhibit about pigments used through the early 20th century; includes timeline, history and techniques
Color Vision & Art - includes color theory, paints, African color, 19th-21st century art
Pantone - A company that specializes in standard color reproduction. Site includes color of the year, color fashion report, and color reference.
Color Matters - Fun facts about color
Subject databases cover a specific discipline and provide the widest range of access to scholarly sources. They are used for in-depth research. Below are just a few examples of databases to search articles about a color from an arts and humanities perspective.
Can't find what you need? Recommended subject databases for each discipline can be found on the "articles" tab in each library subject guide.
Art Database
Humanities Databases
Religion & Philosophy
Performing Arts: Music & Theatre
Literature
The name of a color is a broad term and needs to be narrowed to find relevant results. Here are some tips to try:
Search Primo, the library's gateway to books, selected articles, video, and more.
Suggested search phrases