Dictionary of Art Historians

WHO IS AN ART HISTORIAN?

The definition of who an art historian is–what constitutes an art historian–differs within time, race, gender and the history of art itself. Typically the Dictionary defines an art historian as someone publishing or lecturing in the history of art. Their work must have been written in the form of a history (not esthetic, for example) or biographical. For the early development of art history or the development of subgroups within art history, these definitions broaden. An early historian of art might not have written or lectured much or at all, but if he/she were seminal to the development to the discipline or its narrative, they are included. Critics, gallery dealers or journalists are generally not included unless they have written a separate history somewhere.